U.S. patent application number 15/707320 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-04 for method and apparatus for supporting multiple frequency assignment in wireless communication system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae-Hee CHO, Hyun-Jeong KANG.
Application Number | 20180007671 15/707320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43403501 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180007671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KANG; Hyun-Jeong ; et
al. |
January 4, 2018 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT
IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for supporting multiple frequency
assignments in a wireless communication system are provided. An
operating method of a Mobile Station (MS) for supporting
multicarrier transmission in a wireless communication system
includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with a Base Station
(BS) during a network entry procedure, when supporting a
multicarrier operation mode with the BS, sending a first control
message comprising information of every multicarrier configuration
supported by the MS, to the BS, receiving a second control message
comprising index information of one or more carriers assigned for
the multicarrier operation from the BS, and searching for
configuration information of carriers corresponding to indexes of
the one or more carriers assigned from the BS for the multicarrier
operation.
Inventors: |
KANG; Hyun-Jeong; (Seoul,
KR) ; CHO; Jae-Hee; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
43403501 |
Appl. No.: |
15/707320 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14753488 |
Jun 29, 2015 |
9769814 |
|
|
15707320 |
|
|
|
|
12765328 |
Apr 22, 2010 |
9072031 |
|
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14753488 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 48/12 20130101;
H04W 48/16 20130101; H04W 72/042 20130101; H04W 36/0016 20130101;
H04W 72/0453 20130101; H04W 88/02 20130101; H04W 88/08
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20090101
H04W072/04; H04W 36/00 20090101 H04W036/00; H04W 48/16 20090101
H04W048/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0034927 |
May 26, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0046146 |
Claims
1. A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication
system, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station (BS),
first information regarding a number of carriers supportable for
the terminal; determining at least one carrier supported by the
terminal among the carriers based on the number of the carriers;
and transmitting, to the BS, second information indicating the at
least one carrier determined by the terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises
information regarding a capability of the terminal.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier
comprises at least two carriers, further comprising: communicating
with the base station through a first carrier among the at least
two carriers during a communication with the base station through a
second carrier among the at least two carriers.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is included
in a message, and wherein the at least one carrier is determined by
the terminal based on an ordering of information regarding the
carriers in the message.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message further comprises at
least one of indices of the carriers, center frequencies of the
carriers, bandwidths of the carriers, or offset information of the
carriers.
6. A method for operating a base station in a wireless
communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to a
terminal, first information regarding a number of carriers
supportable for the terminal; and receiving, from the terminal,
second information indicating at least one carrier determined by
the terminal, wherein the at least one carrier is supported by the
terminal and determined among the carriers based on the number of
the carriers.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second information comprises
information regarding a capability of the terminal.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one carrier
comprises at least two carriers, further comprising: communicating
with the terminal through a first carrier among the at least two
carriers during a communication with the terminal through a second
carrier among the at least two carriers.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first information is included
in a message, and wherein the at least one carrier is determined by
the terminal based on an ordering of information regarding the
carriers in the message.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message further comprises at
least one of indices of the carriers, center frequencies of the
carriers, bandwidths of the carriers, or offset information of the
carriers.
11. An apparatus of a terminal in a wireless communication system,
the apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver configured to
receive, from a base station (BS), first information regarding a
number of carriers supportable for the terminal; and at least one
processor configured to determine at least one carrier supported by
the terminal among the carriers based on the number of the
carriers, wherein the at least one transceiver is further
configured to transmit, to the BS, second information indicating
the at least one carrier determined by the terminal.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second information
comprises information regarding a capability of the terminal.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one carrier
comprises at least two carriers, and wherein the transceiver is
further configured to communicate with the base station through a
first carrier among the at least two carriers during a
communication with the base station through a second carrier among
the at least two carriers.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first information is
included in a message, and wherein the at least one carrier is
determined by the terminal based on an ordering of information
regarding the carriers in the message.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the message further
comprises at least one of indices of the carriers, center
frequencies of the carriers, bandwidths of the carriers, or offset
information of the carriers.
16. An apparatus of a base station in a wireless communication
system, the apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver
configured to: transmit, to a terminal, first information regarding
a number of carriers supportable for the terminal, and receive,
from the terminal, second information indicating at least one
carrier determined by the terminal, wherein the at least one
carrier is supported by the terminal and determined among the
carriers based on the number of the carriers.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second information
comprises information regarding a capability of the terminal.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one carrier
comprises at least two carriers, and wherein the at least one
transceiver is further configured to communicate with the terminal
through a first carrier among the at least two carriers during a
communication with the terminal through a second carrier among the
at least two carriers.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first information is
included in a message, and wherein the at least one carrier is
determined by the terminal based on an ordering of information
regarding the carriers in the message.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the message further
comprises at least one of indices of the carriers, center
frequencies of the carriers, bandwidths of the carriers, or offset
information of the carriers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application is a continuation application of a prior
application Ser. No. 14/753,488, filed on Jun. 29, 2015, which is a
continuation application of a prior application Ser. No.
12/765,328, filed on Apr. 22, 2010, which has issued as U.S. Pat.
No. 9,072,031 on Jun. 30, 2015, which claimed the benefit under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Apr.
22, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned
Serial number 10-2009-0034927, and of a Korean patent application
filed on May 26, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office
and assigned Serial number 10-2009-0046146, the entire disclosures
of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
[0002] The present invention relates to a wireless communication
system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
method and an apparatus for processing multiple Frequency
Assignment (FA) configuration information to support an overlay
mode.
2. Description of the Related Art:
[0003] As wireless communication systems advance, types of services
and an amount of traffic provided by the wireless communication
systems are increasing. To meet those demands, various wireless
communication technologies are suggested. Among them, an Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) scheme is under development as the
most prominent next-generation wireless communication technique. A
Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.16 is also
adopting the OFDM or OFDMA as its standard.
[0004] Meanwhile, since frequency resources are limited in the
wireless communication systems, available frequency bands are also
restricted. By modifying the standard, the wireless communication
systems are evolving to provide a higher data rate than the
existing systems and to address implementation issues. In a course
of the evolution, various systems can coexist in the same area
according to their compatibility with the existing systems.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure supporting a single
frequency band and a structure supporting two frequency bands in a
wireless communication system according to the related art.
[0006] In the wireless communication system, in particular, in a
broadband wireless communication system represented by the IEEE
standard 802.16, a Base Station (BS) operates using one Frequency
Assignment (FA) or two or more FAs. The BS offers a radio channel
to a Mobile Station (MS) through its FA.
[0007] Referring FIG. 1, an MS 100 can move from a FA1 region 120
to a FA2 region 140, which is referred to as a handover between the
FAs. Herein, the FA1 region 120 indicates a service coverage area
where the MS 100 receives a wireless communication service using
the FA1, and the FA2 region 140 indicates a service coverage area
where the MS 100 receives the wireless communication service using
the FA2. When the MS 100 traveling in the FA1 region 120 can
operate in only one FA or the FA1 and the FA2 are provided by
different BSs, the MS 100 hands over between the FAs and then
receives the radio channel using the FA2.
[0008] For high data rate transmission, when an MS 150 operates in
two or more FAs or the two or more FAs are provided by a single BS,
the MS 150 can use the radio channel through all of the Fa1 region
160 and the Fa2 region through the FA_n 180. As such, the MS and
the BS can transmit and receive large amounts of data at a high
data rate by using the plurality of the FA_1 through the FA_n.
Hereinafter, the technique for using the existing multiple FAs
without allocating a new frequency band is referred to as a
frequency overlay. In the wireless communication system, it is
necessary to share information (e.g., a center frequency of the FA,
a bandwidth of the FA, and an offset of the FA) relating to every
FA supporting the frequency overlay.
[0009] Thus, a need exists for a method and apparatus for
efficiently processing configuration information of the multiple
FAs supporting the frequency overlay in the wireless communication
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An aspect of the present invention is to address at least
the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at
least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the
present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for
supporting frequency overlay in a wireless communication
system.
[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
method and an apparatus for efficiently processing configuration
information of multiple FAs supporting frequency overlay in a
wireless communication system.
[0012] In accordance an aspect of the present invention, an
operating method of a Mobile Station (MS) for supporting
multicarrier transmission in a wireless communication system. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with a Base
Station (BS) during a network entry procedure, receiving
configuration information of available carriers from the BS,
determining one or more carrier indexes for the multicarrier
operation, and searching for configuration information
corresponding to the one or more carrier indexes.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an operating method of a BS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with an MS
during a network entry procedure, broadcasting configuration
information of available carriers to the MS, and searching for
configuration information corresponding to one or more carrier
indexes.
[0014] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of an MS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with a BS in
course of a network entry procedure, receiving configuration
information of available carriers from the BS, notifying the BS of
the reception of the configuration information of the available
carriers, receiving one or more active carrier indexes for the
multicarrier operation from the BS, and searching for configuration
information corresponding to the one or more active carrier indexes
for an overlay mode.
[0015] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of a BS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with an MS
during a network entry procedure, broadcasting configuration
information of available carriers to the MS, receiving a message
which notifies of reception of the configuration information of the
available carriers, from the MS, indicating one or more active
carrier indexes for the multicarrier operation to the MS, and
searching for configuration information corresponding to the one or
more active carrier indexes for the multicarrier operation.
[0016] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating, at a BS and an MS, a multicarrier
operation during a network entry procedure, determining, at the MS,
one or more carrier indexes for the multicarrier operation, and
searching for configuration information corresponding to the one or
more carrier indexes for the multicarrier operation using a carrier
configuration information table.
[0017] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, a wireless communication system for supporting
multicarrier transmission is provided. The system includes an MS
for negotiating a multicarrier operation with a BS during a network
entry procedure, receiving configuration information of available
carriers from the BS, and determining one or more carrier indexes
for the multicarrier operation, and the BS for, in course of the
network entry procedure, determining the multicarrier operation,
broadcasting the configuration information of the available
carriers, allocating one or more Frequency Assignment (FA) indexes
for the multicarrier operation, and searching for configuration
information corresponding to the one or more carrier indexes for an
overlay mode.
[0018] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of an MS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes sending a first control message for supporting a
multicarrier operation to a BS during a network entry procedure,
receiving a second control message including index information of
one or more carriers allocated for the multicarrier operation, from
the BS, and searching for configuration information of carriers
corresponding to indexes of one or more FAs allocated from the BS
for an overlay mode.
[0019] In accordance with still a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of an MS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes sending a first control message informing of
whether a multicarrier operation is supported, to a BS during a
network entry procedure, when supporting the multicarrier
operation, sending a second control message including index
information of one or more available carriers for a multicarrier
operation from the BS, to the BS, receiving a third control message
including index information of one or more carriers allocated for
the multicarrier operation, from the BS, and searching for
configuration information of carriers corresponding to one or more
carrier indexes allocated from the BS for the multicarrier
operation.
[0020] In accordance with still a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of a BS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes receiving a first control message for supporting a
multicarrier operation from an MS during a network entry procedure,
selecting one or more carriers for the multicarrier operation based
on the first control message, and sending a second control message
including index information of the selected carriers to the MS.
[0021] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of a BS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes receiving a first control message informing of
whether a multicarrier operation is supported, from an MS during a
network entry procedure, when the multicarrier operation is
supported, receiving a second control message including index
information of one or more carriers allocated from the BS for the
multicarrier operation, to the MS, selecting one or more carriers
for the multicarrier operation based on the second control message,
and sending a third control message including index information of
the selected carriers to the MS.
[0022] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of an MS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with a BS
during a network entry procedure, when supporting a multicarrier
operation mode with the BS, sending a first control message
including information of every multicarrier configuration supported
by the MS, to the BS, receiving a second control message including
index information of one or more carriers assigned for the
multicarrier operation from the BS, and searching for configuration
information of carriers corresponding to indexes of the one or more
carriers assigned from the BS for the multicarrier operation.
[0023] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention, an operating method of a BS for supporting multicarrier
transmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The
method includes negotiating a multicarrier operation with an MS
during a network entry procedure, when supporting a multicarrier
operation mode with the MS, receiving a first control message
including information of every multicarrier configuration supported
by the MS, from the MS, selecting one or more carriers for the
multicarrier operation based on the first control message, and
sending a second control message including index information of the
selected carriers to the MS.
[0024] In accordance with still a further aspect of the present
invention, a system for supporting multicarrier transmission in a
wireless communication system is provided. The system includes an
MS for negotiating a multicarrier operation with a BS during a
network entry procedure, when supporting a multicarrier operation
mode with the BS, sending a first control message including
information of every multicarrier configuration supported by the
MS, to the BS, and receiving a second control message including
index information of one or more carriers assigned for the
multicarrier operation from the BS, and the BS for sending the one
or more carriers assigned for the multicarrier operation to the MS
based on the first control message.
[0025] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with
the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure supporting a single
frequency band and a structure supporting two frequency bands in a
wireless communication system according to the related art;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a Mobile Station (MS) for
supporting an overlay mode in a wireless communication system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a Base Station (BS) for
supporting an overlay mode in a wireless communication system
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operations of an MS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of operations of a BS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations of an MS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations of a BS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like
reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements,
features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0041] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and
their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist
in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely
exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments
described herein can be made without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions
and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0042] The terms and words used in the following description and
claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are
merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent
understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent
to those skilled in the art that the following description of
exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for
illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the
invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0043] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an,"
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component
surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a
method and an apparatus for processing configuration information of
each of multiple Frequency Assignments (FAs) supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system.
[0045] Hereinafter, a mode for a Mobile Station (MS) and a Base
Station (BS) to transmit and receive signals using the multiple FAs
is referred to as an overlay mode. A wireless communication system
in the overlay mode is referred to as an overlay communication
system.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an MS for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, the MS includes a controller 200, a
first Media Access Control (MAC) processor 202-1 through an n-th
MAC processor 202-n, a first transmitter and receiver modem 204-1
through an n-th transmitter and receiver modem 204-n, a multiplexer
and demultiplexer 206, and a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter and
receiver 208.
[0048] The controller 200 controls operations of the MS. The
controller 200 controls to set an overlay mode using an FA index
for the overlay determined in a network entry procedure and
configuration information relating to every FA acquired through a
broadcast channel. In more detail, the controller 200 determines
configuration information corresponding to the FA index for the
determined overlay, from the configuration information relating to
every FA acquired over the broadband channel, and sets the overlay
mode using the determined configuration information. The controller
200 controls the first MAC processor 202-1 through the n-th MAC
processor 202-n to process transmit data from a higher layer (e.g.,
Internet Protocol (IP) layer), or controls to forward MAC layer
data from the first MAC processor 202-1 through the n-th MAC
processor 202-n to the higher layer.
[0049] The first MAC processor 202-1 processes the transmit data
from the higher layer (e.g., the IP layer) in the MAC layer and
transmits the processed transmit data to the first transmitter and
receiver modem 204-1 under the control of the controller 200. The
first MAC processor 202-1 functions to generate and analyze a
control message required for the signaling. For example, the first
MAC processor 202-1 generates readiness indicator information
relating to the FA for the determined overlay mode under the
control of the controller 200. According to an exemplary
embodiment, the first MAC processor 202-1 receives the
configuration information of every FA, generates an ACKnowledgement
(ACK) message accordingly, and generates the readiness indicator
information for the active FA.
[0050] Under the control of the controller 200, the first MAC
processor 202-1 processes data from the first transmitter and
receiver modem 204-1 in the MAC layer and transmits the processed
data to the higher layer. The first MAC processor 202-1 analyzes a
broadcast message including the configuration information of every
FA received from the BS and a control message including the
information of the FA for the overlay mode, and provides the
analyzed information to the controller 200. According to an
exemplary embodiment, the first MAC processor 202-1 analyzes an
indication message for the active FA received from the BS and
provides the analyzed message to the controller 200.
[0051] In a transmission mode, the first transmitter and receiver
modem 204-1 encodes the data (burst data) from the first MAC
processor 202-1 in a physical layer under the control of the
controller 200. In a reception mode, the first transmitter and
receiver modem 204-1 decodes a signal from the demultiplexer 206 in
the physical layer.
[0052] For example, the first transmitter and receiver modem 204-1
includes a channel encoding block, a modulating block, and so on
for modulating the signal from the first MAC processor 202-1 in the
baseband. Herein, the channel encoding block includes a channel
encoder, an interleaver, and a modulator. The modulating block may
include an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) operator for
loading the transmit data to a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.
Given an OFDMA system, the modulating block of the first
transmitter and receiver modem 204-1 may include an FFT operator
for extracting data from the subcarriers, and the channel decoding
block may include a demodulator, a deinterleaver, and a channel
decoder.
[0053] The first MAC processor 202-1 and the first transmitter and
receiver modem 204-1 are components for the communication using the
Fa1 and are controlled by the controller 200. The n-th MAC
processor 202-n and the n-th transmitter and receiver modem 204-n
are components for the communication using the FA_n and are
controlled by the controller 200. A number of the FAs used in the
overlay mode is determined by the controller 200.
[0054] The multiplexer 206 multiplexes signals from the first
transmitter modem 204-1 through the n-th transmitter modem 204-n.
The demultiplexer 206 forwards signals from the RF transmitter and
receiver 208 to the first transmitter and receiver modem 204-1
through the n-th transmitter and receiver modem 204-n at the same
time, or to one or some selected from the first transmitter and
receiver modem 204-1 through the n-th transmitter and receiver
modem 204-n under the control of the controller 200.
[0055] The RF transmitter and receiver 208 converts the signals
output from the multiplexer 206 into an RF signal and transmits the
RF signals via an antenna. The RF transmitter and receiver 208
converts signals received over the antenna into a baseband
signal.
[0056] Meanwhile, the physical layer encoding scheme in the first
transmitter and receiver modem 204-1 through the n-th transmitter
and receiver modem 204-n is similar. Hence, the first transmitter
and receiver modem 204-1 through the second transmitter and
receiver modem 204-n can be implemented as a single device.
[0057] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a BS for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, the BS includes an RF transmitter and
receiver 300, a multiplexer and demultiplexer 302, a first
transmitter and receiver modem 304-1 through an n-th transmitter
and receiver modem 304-n, a first MAC processor 306-1 through an
n-th MAC processor 306-n, and a controller 308.
[0059] The controller 308 controls operations of the BS. The
controller 308 controls an overlay mode operation by determining
the FAs for the overlay mode with the corresponding MS in the
network entry procedure. The controller 308 controls the first MAC
processor 306-1 through the n-th MAC processor 306-n to process
transmit data from a higher layer (e.g., the IP layer), or controls
to forward MAC layer data from the first MAC processor 306-1
through the n-th MAC processor 306-n to the higher layer. The
controller 308 controls to generate and transmit various control
signals (preamble, FCH, MAP, etc.) and controls to transmit and
receive data.
[0060] During a network entry, the controller 308 determines the
overlay mode and assigns one or more FA indexes for the overlay
mode. The controller 308 broadcasts configuration information
relating to every FA over the broadcast channel.
[0061] Under the control of the controller 308, the first MAC
processor 306-1 processes the transmit data from the higher layer
(e.g., the IP layer) in the MAC layer and outputs the processed
transmit data to the first transmitter and receiver modem 304-1.
The first MAC processor 306-1 serves to generate and analyze a
control message required for the signaling. For example, the first
MAC processor 306-1 analyzes a readiness indicator message relating
to the FAs for the determined overlay mode and a readiness
indicator message relating to the active FA and provides the
analyzed message to the controller 308 under the control of the
controller 308. The first MAC processor 306-1 analyzes an ACK
message for the configuration information of every FA and provides
the analyzed message to the controller 308.
[0062] The first MAC processor 306-1 processes data from the first
transmitter and receiver modem 304-1 in the MAC layer and outputs
the processed data to the higher layer under the control of the
controller 308. The first MAC processor 306-1 analyzes the
readiness indicator message relating to the FA received from the MS
and the ACK message for the configuration information of every FA
and provides the analyzed messages to the controller 308.
[0063] In a transmission mode, the first transmitter and receiver
modem 304-1 encodes the data (burst data) from the first MAC
processor 306-1 in the physical layer under the control of the
controller 308. In a reception mode, the first transmitter and
receiver modem 304-1 decodes a signal from the demultiplexer and
multiplexer 302 in the physical layer.
[0064] For example, the first transmitter and receiver modem 304-1
includes a channel encoding block and a modulating block, and
modulates the signal from the first MAC processor 306-1 in the
baseband. Herein, the channel encoding block includes a channel
encoder, an interleaver, and a modulator. The modulating block may
include an IFFT operator for loading the transmit data to a
plurality of orthogonal subcarriers. Given an OFDMA system, the
modulating block of the first transmitter and receiver modem 304-1
may include an FFT operator for extracting data from the
subcarriers, and the channel decoding block can include a
demodulator, a deinterleaver, and a channel decoder.
[0065] The first MAC processor 306-1 and the first transmitter and
receiver modem 304-1 are components for the communication using the
Fa1 and are controlled by the controller 308. The n-th MAC
processor 306-n and the n-th transmitter and receiver modem 304-n
are components for the communication using the FA_n and are
controlled by the controller 308. A number of the FAs used in the
overlay mode is determined by the controller 308.
[0066] The demultiplexer and multiplexer 302 multiplexes the
signals from the first transmitter and receiver modem 304-1 through
the n-th transmitter and receiver modem 304-n. The demultiplexer
and multiplexer 302 forwards a signal from the RF transmitter and
receiver 300 to the first transmitter and receiver modem 304-1
through the n-th transmitter and receiver modem 304-n at the same
time, or to one or some selected from the first transmitter and
receiver modem 304-1 through the n-th transmitter and receiver
modem 304-n under the control of the controller 308.
[0067] The RF transmitter and receiver 300 converts the signal
output from the demultiplexer and multiplexer 302 into an RF signal
and transmits the RF signal via an antenna. The RF transmitter and
receiver 300 converts a signal received over the antenna into a
baseband signal.
[0068] Meanwhile, the physical layer encoding scheme in the first
transmitter and receiver modem 304-1 through the n-th transmitter
and receiver modem 304-n is similar. Hence, the first transmitter
and receiver modem 304-1 through the n-th transmitter and receiver
modem 304-n can be implemented as a single device.
[0069] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operations of an MS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 4, it is assumed that the overlay
communication system includes an MS and a BS and the BS operates
two or more FAs; that is, a primary FA and at least one secondary
FA.
[0071] The FAs include an FA available to the BS (hereafter,
referred to as an available FA), an FA assigned to the MS of the
overlay mode (hereafter, referred to as an assigned FA), and an FA
actually used for the MS of the overlay mode to transmit and
receive data (hereafter, referred to as an active FA). The assigned
FA and the active FA can be identical. Alternatively, the active FA
can be a subset of the assigned FA.
[0072] In step 400, the MS searches for the FA for an initial
network entry to the BS. That is, the MS synchronizes by searching
for the center frequency of the FA.
[0073] In step 402, the MS performs a network entry procedure
through the found FA. Using a synchronization procedure and an
initial ranging procedure, the MS sets a power offset value and a
timing offset value to appropriate values.
[0074] In step 404, the MS performs a basic capability negotiation
during the network entry. For example, the MS negotiates the basic
capabilities by sending a subscriber Station (SS) Basic Capability
Request (SBC-REQ) message or a Registration Request (REG-REQ)
message to the BS and receiving a SS Basic Capability Response
(SBC-RSP) message or a Registration Response (REG-RSP) message from
the BS.
[0075] In a process of basic capability negotiation, the MS informs
the BS of whether the overlay mode is supported using the SBC-REQ
message or the REG-REQ message, and receives information relating
to the FA to use in the overlay mode from the BS using the SBC-RSP
message or the REG-RSP message. The information relating to the FA
to use in the overlay mode in the basic capability negotiation
includes at least one of the number of FAs supportable by the MS,
the overlay mode supported by the MS, FA index information to be
used by the MS, FA interval information (the interval between two
FAs in frequency domain), band class information, and bandwidth
[0076] The overlay mode includes information as to whether the MS
supports an FA aggregation mode or an FA switching mode,
information as to whether the MS supports a PHY segmentation mode
or a MAC segmentation mode, and information as to whether the MS
supports the overlay mode only for the contiguous FA or the
non-contiguous.
[0077] The FA index information may include physical carrier index
information of the FA in the BS, and logical carrier index
information for the FA applied only to the MS. While the BS may
send configuration information (e.g., the center frequency of the
FA, the bandwidth of the FA, the offset of the FA, and so on) of
the FA supporting the overlay mode to the MS using the SBC-RSP
message or the REG-RSP message, the size of the SBC-RSP message or
the REG-RSP message increases. However, as sending the SBC-RSP
message or the REG-RSP message to each of the MSs, this can be
overhead to the BS. Thus, in the basic capability negotiation, the
BS receives only the FA index information with respect to the
multiple FAs supporting the overlay mode. Namely, the BS does not
receive the detail configuration information of the multiple FAs
supporting the overlay mode.
[0078] In step 406, the MS receives the configuration information
of every FA from the BS in the process of the network entry. The
configuration information of the FA may be transmitted over the
broadcast channel (or using the broadcast message) of the BS. The
configuration information of the FA may include the physical
carrier index information of the FA, the center frequency of the
FA, the bandwidth of the FA, and the offset information of the FA.
Herein, only the center frequency, the bandwidth, and the offset
information may be carried by the broadcast channel (or the
broadcast message), except for the FA index information. If the MS
is implicitly aware of the index information of the FA
corresponding to the FA configuration information of the FA, the FA
index information may be omitted in the configuration information
of the FA. That is, the index of each FA may follow the order of
the FA configuration information in the broadcast channel (or the
broadcast message).
[0079] As above, the MS supporting the overlay mode acquires the
information of which FA is used to communicate with the BS and the
configuration information of the FA to use in steps 404 and 406. In
more detail, the MS may acquire brief information such as index
information of the FA to use in step 404, and the MS may acquire
detailed information of the FA from the configuration information
broadcast from the BS in step 406.
[0080] When the MS receives the configuration information of the FA
broadcast by the BS in step 406 after the overlay mode support
negotiation of the basic capability negotiation process of step
404, the MS may be able to acquire the FA configuration information
of step 406 before step 404. Using the SBC-REQ message or the
REG-REQ message exchanged in the overlay mode support negotiation
process of the basic capability negotiation of step 404, the MS may
send an indicator of the reception of the FA configuration
information message to the BS. When receiving an indicator of no
reception of the FA configuration information message, the BS may
transmit the FA configuration information together with the index
information of the FA to be used by the MS using the SBC-RSP
message or the REG-RSP message.
[0081] Alternatively, when the MS and the BS keep the FA
configuration information as a table, there is no need to send the
configuration information of every FA using the broadcast message.
The MS may retrieve the configuration information corresponding to
the FA index supporting the determined overlay mode in the basic
capability negotiation from the table.
[0082] By retrieving the configuration information corresponding to
the FA index of step 404 from the configuration information of
every FA received using the broadcast message in step 406, the MS
processes to transmit and receive data using the indicated FA of
step 404 in step 408. Step 408 applies the code-based ranging
process on the FA when it is necessary to acquire the
synchronization or to regulate the frequency/time/power offset to
transmit and receive the data using the FA, rather than the network
entry procedure over the FA.
[0083] When the MS is ready to use the FA for the overlay mode in
step 408, the MS signals the BS to inform of the readiness for the
data transmission and reception with the BS using the FA for the
overlay mode in step 410. Herein, the signaling to inform of the
readiness for the data transmission and reception using the FA is
outside the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention
and thus a more detailed description of thereof shall be omitted
here.
[0084] Next, the MS finishes this process.
[0085] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of operations of a BS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 5, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA using the broadcast channel or the
broadcast message on the periodic basis or according to an event
triggering in step 500.
[0087] If the MS stores the configuration information of every FA
as the table, the BS does not have to broadcast the configuration
information of every FA using the broadcast message.
[0088] When recognizing that the corresponding MS supports the
overlay mode in the network entry procedure with the corresponding
MS, the BS allocates the multiple FAs to be used by the MS in the
overlay mode in step 502. The process for the recognizing of the MS
supporting the overlay mode corresponds to the basic capability
negotiation of the network entry procedure, and may be determined
by receiving the SBC-REQ message or the REG-REQ message from the
MS. The FA allocation to be used by the MS in the overlay mode may
be included in the SBC-RSP message or the REG-RSP message
corresponding to a response message of the SBC-REQ message or the
REG-REQ message. The SBC-RSP message or the REG-RSP message
transmitted from the BS may include allocation information (the FA
index and the number of the FAs allocated to the MS, and the
overlay mode to be used by the MS) of the FAs to be used by the MS,
and time information for starting the use of the allocated FA.
[0089] In step 504, the BS determines whether the signal informing
of the readiness for the data transmission and reception with the
BS using the FAs allocated in step 502, is received from the MS. If
it is determined in step 504 that the signal informing of the
readiness for the data transmission and reception in the overlay
mode from the MS is received, the BS transmits and receives data
with the MS over the allocated FAs in step 506.
[0090] Next, the BS finishes this process.
[0091] In FIGS. 4 and 5, the MS supporting the overlay mode is
allocated with the FAs to use from the BS in the process of the
network entry, acquires detailed information of the allocated FAs
from the configuration information, and then informs of its
readiness for the allocated FAs. That is, it has been explained
that every FA allocated is the FA actually used for the MS and the
BS to transmit and receive the data.
[0092] When the BS separately designates the FA to use among the
allocated FAs according to the situation without having to use all
of the allocated FAs for the data transmission and reception of the
MS and the BS, an exemplary method for utilizing the configuration
information is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0093] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations of an MS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 6, in step 600 the MS executes the network
entry procedure by searching for the FA for the network entry.
[0095] During a network entry, the MS acquires available FA
information in the overlay mode with the BS by performing the
overlay mode support negotiation procedure in step 602. The FA
information includes a number of the FAs supportable by the MS, the
overlay mode supported by the MS, and the FA index information to
be used by the MS. Herein, step 602 is the same as step 404.
[0096] In step 604, the MS acquires the configuration information
of every FA managed by the BS through the broadcast channel or the
broadcast message transmitted from the BS. The configuration
information of the FA may include the physical carrier index
information of the FA, the center frequency of the FA, the
bandwidth of the FA, and the offset information of the FA. The
configuration information acquisition of every FA managed by the BS
in step 604 can precede step 602.
[0097] In step 606, the MS receiving the configuration information
transmits a signal to the BS to inform of the reception of the
configuration information. The signal may inform the readiness to
use the FAs allocated from the BS in the overlay mode support if
the allocated FAs are used the FA (i.e., the active FA) to be
actually used by the BS.While the MS acquires the configuration
information of the FAs managed by the BS in step 604, the MS may
acquire the configuration information of the FAs managed by the BS
before step 602. In this case, the MS sends an indicator informing
that the configuration information of the FAs is acquired, using
the SBC-REQ message or the REG-REQ message transmitted in the
overlay mode support negotiation of step 602. When the SBC-REQ
message or the REG-REQ message carries the indicator informing that
the configuration information of the FAs is acquired, step 606 may
be omitted.
[0098] When not acquiring the configuration information of the FAs
in the process of the overlay mode support negotiation of step 602,
the MS sends a relevant indicator using the SBC-REQ message or the
REG-REQ message. As receiving the indicator informing that the
configuration information of the FAs is not acquired, the BS may
transmit the configuration information of the FAs together with the
index information of the FA to be used by the MS using the SBC-RSP
message or the REG-RSP message. When the SBC-RSP message or the
REG-RSP message carries the configuration information of the FA to
use, step 604 may be omitted.
[0099] In step 608, the MS receives allocation indication for the
FA to use in the overlay mode (hereafter, referred to as the active
FA) from the BS. The FA allocation indication received in step 608
may include index information of the FA, logical carrier index
information of the FA, and use start time information of the
FA.
[0100] In step 610, the MS prepares to transmit and receive data
using the received information of the active FA (e.g., the FA index
information). The preparation to transmit and receive data may
include the ranging.
[0101] Upon completing the preparation to transmit and receive data
using the indicated active FA, the MS transmits a signal informing
of this to the BS in step 612. The signal transmitted in step 612
is the same as the signal in step 410.
[0102] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations of a BS for supporting
an overlay mode in a wireless communication system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0103] Referring to FIG. 7, the BS transmits the configuration
information of the FAs managed by itself using the broadcast
channel or the broadcast message in step 500. In the network entry
with the MS of the overlay mode, the BS allocates an FA usable by
the MS in the overlay mode in step 702. The information exchanged
between the MS and the BS in step 702 includes a number of the FAs
supportable by the MS, the overlay mode of the MS, and the FA index
information usable by the MS.
[0104] In step 704, the BS determines whether the signal informing
of the reception of the configuration information, is received from
the MS. Herein, the signal, which is received from the MS in step
704, informing of whether the configuration information of the FAs
is received is included in the message received from the MS in step
702, or carried by a separate message other than the message of
step 702. When the message received from the MS in step 702
includes the indicator informing of no reception of the FA
configuration information, the BS may transmit the configuration
information of the FAs to be used by the MS using the message sent
to the MS in step 702.
[0105] If it is determined in step 704 that the signal informing of
the reception of the configuration information is received from the
MS, The BS receiving the signal informing of the reception of the
configuration information from the MS in step 704, transmits the
information (e.g., the FA index) of the active FA to be used by the
MS in the overlay mode in step 706. The message sent to the MS in
step 706 may include use start time information of the active FA
besides the index of the active FA.
[0106] In step 708, the BS determines whether the signal informing
of the readiness to use the allocated active FA is received from
the MS. If it is determined in step 708 that the signal informing
of the readiness of the MS to transmit and receive data over the
active FA is received, the BS transmits and receives data to and
from the MS over the FA in step 710.
[0107] While the active FA information transmitted from the BS to
the MS in step 706 may be the same as the FA allocated in step 702,
the active FA information can include a new FA not allocated in
step 702. The configuration information of the new FA unallocated
in step 702 may be acquired from the FA configuration information
transmitted by the BS in step 700. Alternatively, the message sent
from the BS to the MS in step 706 may carry the configuration
information of the new FA together with an index of the new active
FA.
[0108] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0109] Referring to FIG. 8, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 800.
[0110] The MS and the BS negotiate for the overlay mode execution
during the network entry procedure and determine the FA index for
the overlay mode when determining the overlay mode in step 810.
[0111] Step 800 and step 810 are independent of each other. Before
the receiving of the configuration information of every FA, the MS
may receive the FA index for the overlay mode.
[0112] When receiving both of the FA index for the overlay mode and
the corresponding configuration information, the MS uses the FA
configuration information corresponding to the FA index supporting
the overlay mode in step 820 and sends the readiness indicator
message for the determined overlay mode to the BS in step 830.
[0113] Next, the MS transmits and receives data to and from the BS
using the determined FA in step 840.
[0114] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 9, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 900.
[0116] The MS and the BS negotiate for the overlay mode execution
during the network entry procedure and determine the FA index for
the overlay mode when determining the overlay mode in step 910.
[0117] Step 900 and step 910 are independent of each other. Before
receiving the configuration information of every FA, the MS may
perform the negotiation for the overlay mode execution and receive
the FA index for the overlay mode.
[0118] When receiving the configuration information of every FA
from the BS, the MS sends an ACKnowledgement (ACK) message to the
BS in step 920.
[0119] Upon receiving the ACK message, the BS sends the indication
message for the active FA to the MS in step 930. The MS determines
the FA configuration information corresponding to the active FA in
step 940 and sends the readiness indicator message for the active
FA to the BS in step 950.
[0120] Next, the MS transmits and receives data to and from the BS
using the active FA in step 960.
[0121] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0122] Referring to FIG. 10, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 1000.
[0123] The MS searches for the FA for the network entry in step
1010 and performs the network entry procedure with the BS over the
found FA in step 1020. In the basic capability negotiation of the
network entry, the MS sends the message including the overlay mode
support information in step 1030. The message in step 1030 includes
the overlay mode supported by the MS, and can include the indicator
information informing of whether the MS receives the configuration
information of the multiple FAs broadcast from the BS in step
1000.
[0124] Upon receiving the FA configuration information from the BS
in step 1000, the MS selects the available FA among the FAs of the
FA configuration information based on the MS support capability and
the requirements of the MS and sends the message including the
selected FA information to the BS in step 1040. The message sent in
step 1040 includes the index information of the FA selected by the
MS.
[0125] In step 1050, the BS selects the FA to allocate to the MS
based on the overlay support capability information and the MS
available FA information received in step 1030 and step 1040 and
the FA state of the BS, and sends the message including the FA
information to the MS. The message of step 1050 includes the index
information of the FA allocated to the MS and the start time
information for using the allocated FA.
[0126] The messages sent in step 1040 and step 1050 are the
messages delivered between the MS and the BS in the basic
capability negotiation of step 1030, or separate messages. If the
messages in step 1040 and step 1050 are separate messages, the
steps after step 1040 are performed after the network entry
procedure between the BS and the MS is completed.
[0127] The MS receiving the FA information allocated from the BS
transmits the signal informing of its readiness to transmit and
receive data using the FA to the BS in step 1060. The BS transmits
and receives data to and from the MS over the FA in step 1070.
[0128] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0129] Referring to FIG. 11, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 1100.
[0130] The MS searches for the FA for the network entry in step
1110 and performs the network entry procedure with the BS over the
found FA in step 1120. In the basic capability negotiation of the
network entry procedure, the MS sends the message including the
overlay mode support information in step 1130. The message in step
1130 includes the detailed overlay mode support information, for
example, the overlay mode supported by the MS, the bandwidth
information supportable by the MS, the inter-FA interval
supportable by the MS, the FA number information supportable by the
MS. The message in step 1130 may include the indicator information
informing of whether the MS receives the configuration information
of the FAs broadcast from the BS in step 1100.
[0131] When the network entry procedure between the MS and the BS
is finished, the BS selects the FA to allocate to the MS based on
the overlay support capability information received in step 1130
and the FA state of the BS, and sends the message including the FA
information to the MS in step 1140. The message in step 1140
includes the index information of the FA allocated to the MS and
the start time information for using the allocated FA. The message
sent in step 1140 may include the configuration information of the
allocated FA.
[0132] The MS receiving the FA information allocated from the BS
transmits the signal informing of its readiness to transmit and
receive data using the FA to the BS in step 1150. The BS transmits
and receives data to and from the MS over the FA in step 1160.
[0133] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0134] Referring to FIG. 12, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 1200.
[0135] The MS searches for the FA for the network entry in step
1210 and performs the network entry procedure with the BS over the
found FA in step 1220. In the basic capability negotiation of the
network entry procedure, the MS sends the message including the
overlay mode support information in step 1230. The overlay mode
support information of step 1230 includes the information
indicating whether or not the MS supports the overlay mode.
[0136] After completing the network entry procedure, the MS sends a
message including the additional overlay mode support capability
information to the BS in step 1240. The message of step 1240
includes the detailed overlay mode support information, for
example, the overlay mode supported by the MS, the bandwidth
information supportable by the MS, the inter-FA interval (interval
between two FAs in frequency domain) supportable by the MS, the FA
number information supportable by the MS. The message in step 1240
can include the indicator information informing of whether the MS
receives the FA configuration information from the BS in step
1200.
[0137] In step 1250, the BS selects the FA to allocate to the MS
based on the overlay support capability information received in
step 1240 and the FA state of the BS, and sends the message
including the FA information to the MS. The message in step 1250
includes the index information of the FA allocated to the MS and
the start time information for using the allocated FA. The message
in step 1250 can include the configuration information of the
allocated FA.
[0138] The MS receiving the FA information allocated from the BS
transmits the signal informing of its readiness to transmit and
receive data using the FA to the BS in step 1260. The BS transmits
and receives data to and from the MS over the FA in step 1270.
[0139] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a method for supporting an overlay
mode in a wireless communication system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0140] Referring to FIG. 13, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel according to the
triggering event or on the periodic basis in step 1300.
[0141] The MS searches for the FA for the network entry in step
1310 and performs the network entry procedure with the BS over the
found FA in step 1320. In the basic capability negotiation of the
network entry procedure, the MS sends the message including the
overlay mode support information in step 1330. The message in step
1330 includes the overlay mode supported by the MS, the bandwidth
information supportable by the MS, the inter-FA interval(interval
between two FAs in frequency domain) supportable by the MS, and the
FA number information supportable by the MS. As the overlay mode
support information of the MS is delivered in step 1330, the MS and
the BS negotiates on whether to use the overlay mode.
[0142] When determining to use the overlay mode, the MS sends a
message informing of whether the MS receives the configuration
information of the multiple FAs from the BS in step 1300, in step
1340. The message of step 1340 includes FA configuration
information reception indicator information, and can be a MAC layer
control message or a MAC layer header, or a signal piggybacked on
other message.
[0143] After receiving the message informing of the reception of
the FA configuration information from the MS in step 1340, the BS
selects the FA to allocate to the MS based on the overlay support
capability information received in step 1330 and the FA state of
the BS, and sends the message including the FA information to the
MS in step 1350. The message in step 1350 includes the index
information of the FA allocated to the MS and the start time
information for using the allocated FA.
[0144] The MS receiving the FA information allocated from the BS
transmits the signal informing of its readiness to transmit and
receive data using the FA to the BS in step 1360. The BS transmits
and receives data to and from the MS over the FA in step 1370.
[0145] In FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13, it is assumed that the FAs
allocated by the FA are used for the MS to transmit and receive the
data with the BS while the MS stays in the overlay mode. If the BS
designates the FA to use among the allocated FAs according to the
situation, steps 930 through 950 of FIG. 9 may be added between the
BS and the MS.
[0146] As set forth above, the BS transmits the configuration
information of every FA over the broadcast channel and sends only
the corresponding FA index in the overlay mode support negotiation
in the wireless communication system. Therefore, a large amount of
data can be transmitted and received efficiently.
[0147] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *