Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet-centric wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system architecture

US 20050232193A1
Filed: 02/28/2005
Published: 10/20/2005
Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-12. -12. (canceled)

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Abstract

A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system includes: a wireless base station communicating via a packet-centric protocol to a first data network; one or more host workstations communicating via the packet-centric protocol to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth via the packet-centric protocol over a wireless medium; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled via the packet-centric protocol to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network. The packet-centric protocol can be transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). The packet-centric protocol can be a user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP). The system can include a resource allocation means for allocating shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations. The resource allocation is performed to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS). The wireless communication medium can include at least one of: a radio frequency (RF) communications medium; a cable communications medium; and a satellite communications medium. The wireless communication medium can further include a telecommunications access method including at least one of: a time division multiple access (TDMA) access method; a time division multiple access/time division duplex (TDMA/TDD) access method; a code division multiple access (CDMA) access method; and a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) access method. The first data network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN). The second network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN).

221 Citations

53 Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method comprising:
- coupling one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations with a base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and
  
  allocating said wireless bandwidth and system resources based on contents of packets to be communicated over said wireless bandwidth.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said packet-centric protocol comprises transmission control protocol/internet protocol.
  - 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said packet-centric protocol comprises user datagram protocol/internet protocol.
  - 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
    - allocating said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations so as to optimize end-user quality of service.
  - 17. The method of claim 13, wherein said coupling one or more subscriber CPE stations with said wireless base station comprises using a telecommunications access method including at least one of:
    - a time division multiple access method;
      
      a time division multiple access/time division duplex access method;
      
      a code division multiple access method; and
      
      /or a frequency division multiple access method.
  - 18. The method of claim 13, wherein said packets to be communicated are from a data network.
  - 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said data network comprises at least one of:
    - a wireline network;
      
      a wireless network;
      
      a local area network; and
      
      /or a wide area network.
  - 20. The method of claim 13, wherein said allocating is based on at least one of a packet header contents and a packet payload contents.

21. A method comprising:
- differentiating data packets in a wireless data communication network into classes of service;
  
  mapping said classes of service against a quality of service matrix; and
  
  implementing said service classes in said wireless data communication network using at least one of traffic shaping, admission control, internet protocol (IP) precedence, and/or differential congestion management.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said differentiating comprises analyzing headers of said data packets.
  - 23. The method of claim 22 wherein said analyzing further comprises associating a header'"'"'s packet with at least one other of said packets, based at least in part on the header.
  - 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said analyzing further comprises associating said header'"'"'s packet and said at least one other of said packets with at least one of an application, function and/or purpose, based at least in part on said header.
  - 25. The method of claim 23 wherein said analyzing further comprises associating said header'"'"'s packets with at least one of an application, function and purpose, based at least in part on said header.

26. A method comprising:
- retransmitting packets of data within a wireless network without invoking transmission control protocol (TCP) retransmission; and
  
  managing a TCP transmission widow for packets in said wireless data transmission system by transmitting a packet receipt acknowledgement before a TCP sender detects a lost packet and initiates retransmission and resets transmission rates for packets.
- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- - 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
    - determining quality of service requirements for an IP stream; and
      
      communicating the determination to a media access control (MAC) layer carrying out said retransmitting and managing.
  - 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said determining further comprises determining a nature of an application associated with said IP stream.
  - 29. The method of claim 27 wherein said determining comprises determining information contained in a header of at least one packet in said IP stream.
  - 30. The method of claim 27 farther comprising:
    - identifying an IP data flow as one of an existing IP data flow and a new IP data flow
  - 31. The method of claim 30 wherein said determining quality of service requirements for an IP stream farther comprises determining a subscriber CPE station to receive a new IP data flow.
  - 32. The method of claim 27 wherein said determining quality of service requirements for an IP stream farther comprises classifying an IP data flow into a communications priority class.
  - 33. The method of claim 26 farther comprising:
    - placing received data packets into priority class queues for transmission to an indicated subscriber CPE station.
  - 34. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
    - communicating, by a TCP transmission window manager within a MAC layer carrying out said retransmitting and managing, status of packets transmitted over a wireless medium of said wireless data transmission system by transmitting said packet receipt acknowledgement before a TCP sender detects a lost packet and initiates retransmission.

35. A system comprising:
- a wireless MAC layer mediating local retransmission of lost packets without signaling TCP lost packets and without altering TCP transmission speed, said MAC layer also scheduling packet transmissions across a wireless medium employed by a wireless network.
- View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
- - 36. The system of claim 35 wherein said scheduling is based at least in part on at least one of IP flow type, service level agreements and quality of service.
  - 37. The system of claim 35 further comprising:
    - a TCP transmission window manager communicating status of packets transmitted over said wireless medium with said MAC layer.
  - 38. The system of claim 35 wherein said MAC comprises:
    - an IP flow analyzer identifying, characterizing and presenting data packets to a downlink flow scheduler of said MAC.
  - 39. The system of claim 38 wherein said IP flow analyzer identifies an IP data flow as one of an existing IP data flow and a new IP data flow
  - 40. The system of claim 38 wherein said characterizing comprises determining a required quality of service for a new data flow.
  - 41. The system of claim 38 wherein said characterizing comprises determining a subscriber CPE station to receive a new data flow.
  - 42. The system of claim 38 wherein said IP flow analyzer classifies a new IP data flow into a communications priority class.
  - 43. The system of claim 38 wherein said downlink flow scheduler places received data packets into priority class queues for transmission to an indicated subscriber CPE station.
  - 44. The system of claim 35 wherein one of said MAC layers is associated with each of a base station and CPE station, and the MAC of both said base station and said CPE are carried out by said base station and said scheduling is centralized and optimized.

45. A base station comprising:
- an interface with a first data network configured to provide communication between said base station and a first data network using a packet-centric protocol; and
  
  a controller configured to allocate wireless bandwidth and base station resources based on contents of packets to be communicated from and to said first data network with one or more subscriber CPE stations over a shared wireless bandwidth using said packet-centric protocol.
- View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
- - 46. The base station of claim 45, wherein said packet-centric protocol comprises transmission control protocol/internet protocol.
  - 47. The base station of claim 45, wherein said packet-centric protocol comprises user datagram protocol/internet protocol.
  - 48. The base station of claim 45 wherein said controller comprises a MAC layer.
  - 49. The base station of claim 48 wherein said MAC layer allocates said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations so as to optimize end-user quality of service.
  - 50. The base station of claim 48, wherein said MAC layer determines the allocation of wireless bandwidth and base station resources based, at least in part, on at least one of a packet header contents and a packet payload contents.
  - 51. The base station of claim 45 wherein said communication medium comprises a radio frequency (RF) communication link.
  - 52. The base station of claim 51, wherein said RF communication link uses at least one of:
    - time division multiple access;
      
      time division multiple access/time division duplex access;
      
      code division multiple access; and
      
      /or frequency division multiple access.
  - 53. The base station of claim 45, wherein said first data network comprises at least one of:
    - a wireline network;
      
      a wireless network;
      
      a local area network; and
      
      /or a wide area network.

Specification

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Current Assignee
Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Original Assignee
Van Drebbel Mariner LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Inventors
Jorgensen, Jacob W.

Granted Patent

US 7,409,450 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

370/329
CPC Class Codes

H04L 1/20   using signal quality detector

H04L 12/1813   for computer conferences, e...

H04L 12/1836   with heterogeneous network ...

H04L 12/189   in combination with wireles...

H04L 63/0272   Virtual private networks

H04L 69/16   Implementation or adaptatio...

H04L 69/161   Implementation details of T...

H04L 69/163   In-band adaptation of TCP d...

H04L 69/165   Combined use of TCP and UDP...

H04L 69/168   specially adapted for link ...

H04L 69/169   Special adaptations of TCP,...

H04L 9/40   Network security protocols

H04Q 11/0414   Details

H04Q 2213/1305   Software aspects

H04Q 2213/13096   Digital apparatus individua...

H04Q 2213/13097   Numbering, addressing

H04Q 2213/13098   Mobile subscriber

H04Q 2213/13141   Hunting for free outlet, ci...

H04Q 2213/13166   Fault prevention

H04Q 2213/13176   Common channel signaling, CCS7

H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/tru...

H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols

H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure

H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX

H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing,...

H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, fra...

H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation

H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. use...

H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or ...

H04W 28/18 : Negotiating wireless commun...

H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth

H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Le...

H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation

H04W 48/12 : using downlink control channel

H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation

H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency doma...

H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access

H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols ...

H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e....

H04W 80/06 : Transport layer protocols, ...

H04W 84/06 : Airborne or Satellite Netwo...

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Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet-centric wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system architecture

First Claim

12 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

221 Citations

53 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packet-centric wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system architecture

First Claim

12 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

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Abstract

221 Citations

53 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links