Communication method
09768938 · 2017-09-19
Assignee
Inventors
- Toshizo Nogami (Chiba, JP)
- Takashi Onodera (Yotsukaido, JP)
- Hidekazu Tsuboi (Chiba, JP)
- Shoichi Shitara (Ichihara, JP)
Cpc classification
H04W72/21
ELECTRICITY
H04L5/0007
ELECTRICITY
H04L5/006
ELECTRICITY
H04L5/0044
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
A communication method of a terminal apparatus that performs communications with a base station using a plurality of frequency channels, comprising the steps of: measuring reception quality; selecting part of frequency channels as selection channels from the plurality of frequency channels; generating first information for specifying the selection channels, second information indicating reception quality of the selection channels, and third information indicating one reception quality of whole of the plurality of frequency channels, and transmitting each of the first, second and third information to the base station, wherein the second information indicating the reception quality is information for specifying at least one of a modulation scheme and a coding rate.
Claims
1. A terminal apparatus for performing communications with a base station using a plurality of frequency channels, comprising: a reception quality measuring section configured to measure reception quality; a selection channel selecting section configured to select a set of frequency channels as selection channels from the plurality of frequency channels; a reception quality information generating section configured to generate first information for specifying the selection channels, second information indicating one reception quality value of the selection channels, and third information indicating one reception quality value of the plurality of frequency channels; and a transmitting section configured to transmit each of the first, second and third information to the base station.
2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving section configured to receive a control signal; and a judging section configured to determine the number of the selection channels based on the control signal.
3. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second information is used for specifying a modulation scheme or a coding rate.
4. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, the reception quality value of the selection channels is an average value of the reception quality measurement results of the selection channels.
5. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, the reception quality value of the plurality of frequency channels is an average value of the reception quality measurement results of the plurality of frequency channels.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
(28) Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
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(30) It is assumed that the wireless communication system as shown in
(31) The communication control apparatus 100 is provided with a transmission frame generating section 110, mapping section 120, IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) section 130, transmitting section (control-side transmitting section) 140, antenna 150, receiving section (control-side receiving section) 160, judging section 170, and scheduler section 180. The communication terminal apparatus 200 is provided with an antenna 210, receiving section (terminal-side receiving section) 220, FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) section 230, judging section 240, reception quality measuring section 250, reception quality information generating section 260, transmission frame generating section 270, mapping section 280, and transmitting section (terminal-side transmitting section) 290.
(32) Each of components constituting the wireless communication system will be described along the flow of data. First described is the flow for transmitting transmission data (downlink transmission data) to the communication terminal apparatus 200 in the communication control apparatus 100.
(33) The transmission frame generating section 110 generates a transmission frame from the transmission data (downlink transmission data) according to scheduling control information notified from the scheduler section 180. At this point, the section 110 performs channel coding according to MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme, modulation parameter) information notified from the scheduler section 180. Further, the section 110 generates control data to notify the communication terminal apparatus of the MCS information, and multiplexes the control data into the transmission frame. At this point, the control data may be notified to the communication terminal apparatus on a different channel. Further, a control symbol may be mapped and then multiplexed. The modulation parameter (MCS) is information for specifying at least one of the modulation scheme and the coding rate.
(34) The mapping section 120 performs mapping of the transmission frame according to the MCS control information notified from the scheduler section 180.
(35) The IFFT section 130 performs inverse fast Fourier transform on a modulation symbol string generated in the mapping section 120, and thereby generates an OFDM signal. The transmitting section 140 transmits the OFDM signal via the antenna 150.
(36) Described next is the flow where the communication terminal apparatus 200 receives the transmission data (downlink transmission data) transmitted from the communication control apparatus 100, and transmits transmission data (uplink transmission data) to be transmitted.
(37) The receiving section 220 receives the OFDM signal transmitted from the communication control apparatus 100 via the antenna 210. The FFT section 230 transforms the signal into a modulation symbol of each subcarrier.
(38) The judging section 240 demodulates and decodes the modulation symbol transformed in the FFT section 230. At this point, the judging section 240 first judges the MCS information and scheduling control information, and according to these pieces of control information, judges a data portion. A judged received signal is output to the reception quality measuring section 250 (when the need is eliminated for estimating an interference component such as SNR or the like, a signal prior to judgment, or a received signal of a known signal beforehand multiplexed in the communication control apparatus may be output).
(39) The reception quality measuring section 250 measures the reception quality of the received signal judged by the judging section 240. In this embodiment, CINR is measured as the reception quality. The measured reception quality measurement result is notified to the reception quality information generating section 260. A specific example of the reception quality measurement result will be described later using specific examples as shown in
(40) The reception quality information generating section 260 generates the reception quality information, based on the reception quality measurement result measured in the reception quality measuring section 250. The reception quality information is information to notify the communication-destination apparatus of the reception quality of part of channels (hereinafter, described as “selection channel”) among a plurality of channels. The selection channels are obtained by selecting part of channels from a plurality of channels. Particularly, in this embodiment, the selection channels are obtained by the communication terminal apparatus 200 selecting allocation-desiring frequency channels, and are capable of playing a role of notifying the channels to the communication control apparatus 100. Accordingly, the selection channel is also referred to as a selectable channel, request channel, allocation desired channel.
(41)
(42) In
(43) First, the selection channel selecting section 261 initializes R, and sets n at an initial value (step S11). The selection channel selecting section 261 selects an element with the maximum CINR among the channel set X (step S12) as t, sets R at the result of step S12, and counts up n (step S13). The selection channel selecting section 261 repeats steps S12 and S13 until n agrees with N (No in step S14), and finishes the processing when n agrees with N (Yes in step S14).
(44) Alternately, the section 261 may select all or part of last allocated channels, and then, select selection channels using the above-mentioned selection method within the range of the number of selectable channels.
(45) Based on the selection channels selected by the selection channel selecting section 261 and reception quality, to notify the communication control apparatus 100, the control information generating section 262 generates reception quality information including selection channel numbers (frequency channel numbers for identifying the selection channels, selection channel information) for identifying the selection channels, selection measurement results (selection CINR levels, selection reception quality information) indicating the reception quality (CINR) in the selection channels, and an average measurement result (average CINR level, average reception quality information) obtained by averaging the reception quality in all the frequency channels except the selection channels, and outputs the generated reception quality information to the transmission frame generating section 270. The selection channel number can be information for notifying the selection channel to the communication control apparatus 100 such as a channel identifier, frequency channel number or the like. The selection channel number and selection measurement result are notified in association with each other. The operation of the reception quality information generating section 260 as shown in
(46) The transmission frame generating section 270 generates a transmission frame from transmission data (uplink transmission data). Further, the section 270 generates control information to notify the communication control apparatus 100 of the reception quality information generated in the reception quality information generating section 260, and multiplexes the resultant into the transmission frame.
(47) The transmission frame generated in the transmission frame generating section 270 undergoes mapping in the mapping section 280, and transmitted to the communication control apparatus 100 via the transmitting section 290 and antenna 210.
(48) Described next is the flow where the communication control apparatus 100 receives the transmission data (uplink transmission data) transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus 200.
(49) The receiving section 160 receives the transmission data transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus 200 via the antenna 150.
(50) The judging section 170 demodulates and decodes the transmission data received in the receiving section 160. Further, the judging section 170 separates the control information for reception quality information notification from a data portion, and outputs the reception quality information (selection channel numbers, selection measurement results and average measurement result) to the scheduler section 180.
(51) Based on the reception quality information notified from each communication terminal apparatus 200, the scheduler section 180 selects communication terminal apparatuses 200 to assign in all the channels, and notifies the transmission frame generating section 110 of the communication terminal apparatus 200 assigned to each channel and MCS information.
(52) Based on the selection measurement results, the allocation determining section 181 determines communication terminal apparatuses 200 to assign in all the channels.
(53) Next, for the frequency channel that is not notified as the selection channel from any communication terminal apparatus 200, such a channel is allocated based on the average measurement result notified from each communication terminal apparatus 200. As allocation procedures, last assigned communication terminal apparatus 200 may be assigned preferentially, or arbitrary frequency channels are allocated in the predetermined order of communication terminal apparatuses as in RR (Round Robin) (step S23). Until allocation of all the bands is finished, or allocation of all the data is finished, step S23 is repeated (No in step S24). When the allocation determining section 181 completes allocation of each frequency channel or each data (Yes in step S24), the section 181 notifies scheduling control information indicating the allocation to each band (each frequency channel) to the MCS selecting section 182 and transmission frame generating section 110 (step S25).
(54) According to the scheduling control information notified from the allocation determining section 181, the MCS selecting section 182 selects MCS of the data to be transmitted to each of assigned communication terminal apparatuses 200 based on the reception quality information of the assigned communication terminal apparatuses in respective allocated channels, and outputs the MCS control information to the transmission frame generating section 110 and mapping section 120.
(55) A specific manner of transmission and reception of data is described herein using a base station that is an example of the communication control apparatus 100 and a mobile station that is an example of the communication terminal apparatus 200.
(56) In the base station, the scheduler section 180 performs scheduling (step S109), transmission frame generating section 110 and the like generate transmission packets (step S110), and the generated transmission packets are transmitted to the mobile station (step S111). Based on the number of selectable numbers last notified (step S105), the mobile station measures the reception quality (step S112), selects selection channels (step S113), and notifies the reception quality information (step S114). Subsequent operations are repetitions of the foregoing and omitted.
(57) The function and operation of each component are described above. Since the communication terminal apparatus 200 is required to notify the communication control apparatus 100 only of the reception quality information in the selection channels, as compared with the case of notifying the reception quality information of all the frequency channels, overhead due to control information notification is reduced on uplink.
(58) Using specific examples, described next are the method of selecting selection channels in the mobile station (that is an example of the communication terminal apparatus 200) and the scheduling method in the base station (that is an example of the communication control apparatus 100).
(59) The scheduling method in the base station will be described first.
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(63) Next, the allocation is performed on the frequency channels that are not selected from any mobile stations (step S23 and step S24 in
(64) Described next is the method of selecting selection channels in the mobile station.
(65) Thus, according to this embodiment, the communication terminal apparatus is capable of selecting part of frequency channels from all the frequency channels, and notifying the communication control apparatus of the reception quality information of selected frequency channels. As compared with the case of notifying the reception quality information of all the frequency channels, it is possible to suppress control information amounts, and to reduce overhead due to notification of the control information. Further, since the communication terminal apparatus notifies the communication control apparatus of the reception quality information with good reception quality, it is possible to notify the communication control apparatus of the frequency channels with good reception quality. The communication control apparatus assigns the frequency channels selected in the communication terminal apparatus, and is thereby capable of allocating the frequency channels with good reception quality. Further, since the communication control apparatus notifies the communication terminal apparatus of the number of selectable channels, it is possible on the communication control apparatus side to adjust reception quality information amounts notified from the communication terminal apparatus corresponding to the communication status.
(66) In addition, this embodiment describes the case that the reception quality information includes the selection channel number (frequency channel number), selection measurement result and the average measurement result, but the reception quality information may be information including at least the selection measurement result. Further, the average measurement result is calculated by averaging the reception quality in all the frequency channels except the selection channels, but may use a value calculated by averaging the reception quality in all the frequency channels including the selection channels.
Second Embodiment
(67) The second embodiment describes an aspect that the communication control apparatus notifies the communication terminal apparatus of the last reception quality information. An OFDMA system of this embodiment uses the same configuration as in
(68) In the communication control apparatus 100, the transmission frame generating section 110 generates a transmission frame from the transmission data according to the scheduling control information notified from the scheduler section 180. At this point, the section 110 performs channel coding according to the MCS information notified from the scheduler section 180. Further, in addition to the control data to notify the communication terminal apparatus 200 of the MCS information, the section 110 generates the control data to notify the communication terminal apparatus 200 of the scheduling control information, and the control data to notify each communication terminal apparatus 200 of the reception quality information (allocation measurement result, allocation CINR level) in the frequency channels allocated to each communication terminal apparatus 200, and multiplexes the control data into the transmission frame. The allocation measurement result is a reception quality measurement result measured by a communication terminal apparatus assigned to each channel.
(69) The mapping section 120 performs mapping of the transmission frame according to the MCS control information notified from the scheduler section 180.
(70) The IFFT section 130 performs inverse fast Fourier transform on a modulation symbol string generated in the mapping section 120, and thereby generates an OFDM signal. The OFDM signal is transmitted via the transmitting section 140.
(71) In the communication terminal apparatus 200, the receiving section 220 receives the OFDM signal transmitted from the communication control apparatus 100, the FFT section 230 transforms into a modulation symbol of each subcarrier, and then, the judging section 240 demodulates and decodes the symbol. At this point, the judging section 240 first judges the MCS information and scheduling control information, and according to these pieces of control information, judges a data portion. A judged received signal is output to the reception quality measuring section 250 (when the need is eliminated for estimating an interference component such as SNR or the like, a signal prior to judgment may be output). The reception quality measuring section 250 measures the reception quality (CINR) based on the received signal, and notifies the measured reception quality measurement result to the reception quality information generating section 260. Further, the judging section 240 separates the control data (allocation measurement result) which is notified from the base station to notify the reception quality information in the frequency channels allocated to each communication terminal apparatus 200, and outputs the control data to the reception quality information generating section 260.
(72) The reception quality information generating section 260 will be described next.
(73) The reception quality difference calculating section 263 compares the allocation measurement result notified from the communication control apparatus 100 with the reception quality measurement result (CINR level) measured by the reception quality measuring section 250, and calculates a reception quality difference (CINR difference) in each channel to notify the selection channel selecting section 261. For example, the reception quality difference calculating section 263 calculates, as the reception quality difference, either a difference between the measured reception quality measurement result and the allocation measurement result or a ratio between the measured reception quality measurement result and the allocation measurement result. More specifically, the reception quality difference may be a difference obtained by subtracting the allocation measurement result from the reception quality measurement result measured by the communication terminal apparatus. Alternately, the reception quality difference may be a ratio obtained by dividing the reception quality measurement result measured by the communication terminal apparatus by the allocation measurement result. The reception quality difference calculating section 263 can use other calculation methods which are methods for calculating as the reception quality difference a relative value of the degree by which the reception quality indicated by the reception quality measurement result measured by the communication terminal apparatus is higher or lower than the allocation measurement result.
(74) Based on the reception quality difference notified from the reception quality difference calculating section 263, the selection channel selecting section 261 selects selection channels to notify the control information generating section 262. For example, the selection channel selecting section 261 selects, as selection channels, channels corresponding to the number of selectable channels in descending order of the reception quality difference (in descending order of excellence of the reception quality measurement result of the communication terminal apparatus). Alternately, the selection channel selecting section 261 selects, as selection channels, channels with the calculated reception quality difference larger than a predetermined threshold. Further, the section 261 assigns a priority to a channel that is allocated to the communication terminal apparatus last time to select as the selection channel among the channels with the calculated reception quality difference larger than the predetermined threshold. The selection channel selecting section 261 outputs the selection channels, selection measurement results (selection CINR levels) indicating the reception quality in the selection channels, and the average measurement result (average CINR level) obtained by averaging the reception quality to the control information generating section 262.
(75) The control information generating section 262 generates the reception quality information including the selected selection channel numbers, selection measurement results in the selection channels, and the average measurement result each to be notified to the communication control apparatus 100, and outputs the generated information to the transmission frame generating section 270.
(76) The transmission frame generating section 270 generates a transmission frame from the transmission data. Further, the section 270 generates the control information to notify the communication control apparatus 100 of the reception quality information generated in the reception quality information generating section 260, and multiplexes the resultant into the transmission frame (the data may be notified to the base station on different channels, or a notification symbol may be mapped and then multiplexed).
(77) The transmission frame generated in the transmission frame generating section 270 undergoes mapping in the mapping section 280, and is transmitted to the communication control apparatus 100 via the transmitting section 290.
(78) In the communication control apparatus 100, the receiving section 160 receives the transmission data (signal) transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus 200, and the judging section 170 demodulates and decodes the data.
(79) The judging section 170 separates the control information to notify the reception quality information from a data portion, and outputs the reception quality information (selection channel numbers, selection measurement results and average measurement result) to the scheduler section 180.
(80) The scheduler section 180 will be described next.
(81) As in the first embodiment, the allocation determining section 181 performs each step of steps S21 to S24 of
(82) According to the scheduling control information notified from the allocation determining section 181, the MCS selecting section 182 selects MCS of the data to be transmitted to each of assigned communication terminal apparatuses 200 based on the reception quality information of the assigned communication terminal apparatuses in respective allocated channels, and outputs the MCS control information to the transmission frame generating section 110 and mapping section 120.
(83) Described next are details on the method of selecting selection channels in the mobile station (that is an example of the communication terminal apparatus 200) with reference to a specific example. In addition, as the scheduling method in the base station (that is an example of the communication control apparatus 100), the same method can be used as the method described in the first embodiment.
(84) When the base station determines the allocation, the allocation determining section 181 of the scheduler section 180 generates CINR information (allocation CINR information) in the allocated frequency channels. The allocation CINR information is an example of the allocation measurement result.
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(86) In the mobile station E, the reception quality information generating section 260 compares the information of the CINR level in each frequency channel notified from the base station as shown in
(87) The reception quality difference calculating section 263 calculates a CINR difference by subtracting a value of the allocation CINR level from a value of the CINR level of the mobile station E for each of the frequency channels (step S31). Based on the CINR difference of the reception quality difference calculating section 263, the selection channel selecting section 261 extracts a frequency channel that is allocated to the station E last time and that does not undergo judgment of step S33 and subsequent steps (Yes in step S32), and selects a frequency channel with the highest CINR difference (i.e. an increase in the CINR level from the last time being the largest) among extracted frequency channels (step S33). When a value of the CINR difference in the selected frequency channel is larger than a certain level (Yes in step S34), the selected frequency channel is added (step S35). When a value of the CINR difference in the selected frequency channel is less than or equal to the certain level (No in step S34), the processing flow proceeds to step S37. Step S32 to step S36 are repeated until the number of selected frequency channels becomes a limitation value N, and when there is no frequency channel in step S32 that is allocated last time and that does not undergo judgment of step S33 and subsequent steps (No in step S32), the processing flow shifts to step S37.
(88) Next, the selection channel selecting section 261 selects a frequency channel with the highest CINR difference (i.e. a value obtained by subtracting the CINR level of the station E from the CINR level of another mobile station being the largest) among frequency channels that are not allocated last time (step S37), and adds the frequency channel to selected frequency channels (step S38). Step S37 to step S39 are repeated until the number of selected frequency channel becomes the limitation value N. When the number of frequency channels selected in step S36 or step S39 reaches the limitation value N (Yes in step S36, Yes in step S39), the processing is finished.
(89) In
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(91) As shown in
(92) As shown in
(93) In
(94) As described above, in consideration of frequency channels that are allocated last time, it is possible to prevent the selection channels from being switched every timing of notification to the communication control apparatus 100, and the load on the communication control apparatus 100 can thereby be reduced. Meanwhile, it is possible to use a method of adding frequency channels sequentially to selection channels in descending order of the CINR difference without considering whether the channel is allocated last time. At this time, the load on the communication control apparatus increases, but as compared with the method of considering the frequency channel that is allocated last time, the transmission rate increases.
(95) Thus, in this embodiment, since the communication terminal apparatus is required to notify the communication control apparatus of the reception quality only in the selected frequency channels, overhead due to control information notification is reduced on uplink. Further, the communication control apparatus 100 notifies the reception quality information in frequency channels allocated to the communication terminal apparatus 200, the communication terminal apparatus 200 compares the notified reception quality information with the measured reception quality information, and requests frequency channels having a high possibility of being allocated to the communication control apparatus, and it is thereby possible to reduce the control information efficiently.
Third Embodiment
(96) The third embodiment describes an aspect where the communication control apparatus selects an allocation change candidate channel, and notifies the communication terminal apparatus of the reception quality information in the allocation change candidate channel.
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(98) The scheduler section 180 performs the operation of the data flow as shown in
(99) The allocation change candidate channel selecting section 310 selects a channel (allocation change candidate channel) such that changing allocation to the channel is preferable (desirable), based on the allocation measurement result notified from the scheduler section 180. The allocation measurement result is the reception quality measurement result (CINR level) notified to the communication control apparatus 300 from the communication terminal apparatus 200 assigned to each channel. More specifically, the allocation change candidate channel is judged based on the CINR level and selected as described below.
(100) The allocation change candidate channel selecting section 310 selects an allocation change candidate channel by an either method as described below, using a beforehand set threshold of the CINR level, a beforehand set number-of-channel limitation value of the allocation change candidate channel, or both of them. The threshold and number-of-channel limitation value are assumed to be held in a memory area inside the allocation change candidate channel selecting section 310. (1) Select a frequency channel with the CINR level lower than the threshold; (2) Select frequency channels with low CINR levels sequentially corresponding to the number-of-channel limitation value; and (3) Select a frequency channel with the CINR level lower than the threshold as an allocation change candidate channel, and when the number of frequency channels with the CINR level lower than the threshold is lower than the number-of-channel limitation value, select sequentially channels in ascending order of the CINR level corresponding to the number-of-channel limitation value. The allocation change candidate channel selecting section 310 outputs an allocation change candidate channel number (frequency channel number, allocation change candidate channel information) for identifying the selected allocation change candidate channel and the reception quality measurement result (CINR level) in the selected allocation change candidate channel to the transmission frame generating section 110.
(101) Based on the information output from the allocation change candidate channel selecting section 310, the transmission frame generating section 110 generates the control information to notify the communication terminal apparatus 200 of the allocation change candidate channel number and the reception quality measurement result in the allocation change candidate channel, and multiplexes the information into a transmission frame.
(102) The reception quality information generating section 260 compares the reception quality measurement result (CINR level measured last time by any one of communication terminal apparatuses including the apparatus 200) in the allocation change candidate channel notified from the communication control apparatus 300 with the reception quality measurement result (CINR level measured this time by the apparatus 200) in the allocation change candidate channel measured by the apparatus 200, and determines whether or not to select (request, desire) the allocation of the allocation change candidate channel. At this point, as the method of selecting selection channels, the selection method as shown in
(103) The reception quality information generating section 260 notifies the generated reception quality information to the transmission frame generating section 270, and the transmission frame generating section 270 generates the control information to notify the communication control apparatus 300 of the reception quality information.
(104) At this point, the reception quality information generating section 260 may generate the reception quality information further including the reception quality measurement results (last selection measurement results, last selection CINR levels) in frequency channels that are allocated last time to the communication terminal apparatus 200, in addition to the information (selection channel number) indicating a selection channel selected from the allocation change candidate channels, and the reception quality measurement result (selection measurement result, selection CINR level) in the selection channel.
(105) Thus, in this embodiment, the communication control apparatus is capable of notifying the communication terminal apparatus of the information on allocation change candidate channels. Further, the communication terminal apparatus is capable of selecting a frequency channel of which allocation is desired from the notified allocation change candidate channels, and notifying the communication control apparatus of the channel as the selection channel. By selecting a selection channel from the change candidate channels, it is possible to make the allocation corresponding to the reception quality in the entire system. Further, by this means, it is possible to suppress downlink control information amounts and uplink information amounts. Accordingly, it is possible to perform efficient scheduling, while suppressing the downlink control information amounts and the uplink control information amounts.
Fourth Embodiment
(106) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the communication terminal apparatus notifies the communication control apparatus of frequency channels with good reception quality as selection channels. The fourth embodiment describes an aspect of notifying a frequency channel (allocation refusal channel) with poor reception quality. The allocation refusal channel is a channel to which the communication terminal apparatus refuses to being assigned.
(107) The allocation refusal channel can be selected when the selection channel selecting section selects selection channels. As the method of selecting an allocation refusal channel, there is a method for beforehand determining the number of frequency channels (refusal number M) that can be selected as the allocation refusal channels, and selecting frequency channels in ascending order of the reception quality measurement result (CINR level) within the range of the refusal number M. For the refusal number M, there are cases that M is notified from the communication control apparatus, the communication terminal apparatus sets M, a predetermined numeric value is held, and the like. Further, a method may be used for selecting a frequency channel with the reception quality measurement value (CINR level) less than a predetermined certain level. At this point, the certain level may be held at a beforehand set value, or varied corresponding to communication quality such as packet error and the like. Further, other methods may be used which are the method of making a determination using the reception quality measurement result.
(108) The allocation determining section 181 of the communication control apparatus performs scheduling so as not to allocate a frequency channel to which a communication terminal apparatus refuses to being assigned to data of which destination is the communication terminal apparatus.
(109) Thus, in this embodiment, since the communication terminal apparatus notifies the communication control apparatus of a frequency channel to which the communication terminal apparatus refuses to being assigned, the communication terminal apparatus can avoid from being assigned to the frequency channel with extremely poor reception quality. In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, when selection channels are not allocated, the communication control apparatus performs the allocation using the average reception quality information (average CINR level) as an index, and therefore, there is a possibility of being assigned to a frequency channel with the CINR level remarkably falling below the average CINR level. In this embodiment, by notifying an allocation refusal channel (channel of which allocation is refused) as well as frequency channels (selection channels) of which allocation is desired, the communication terminal apparatus can avoid from being assigned to a frequency channel with an extremely poor CINR level, and it is possible to perform more efficient scheduling.
Fifth Embodiment
(110) The fifth embodiment describes an aspect of scheduling in consideration of QoS (Quality of Service) in addition to the reception quality information. This embodiment uses two classes, Real Time (RT) and Non Real Time (NRT), as an example of QoS, to explain, but the items are of an example and do not limit meaning of QoS. Further, this embodiment is explained using the OFDMA system as in
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(112) Thus, in this embodiment, since channels are preferentially allocated to the data of RT class, the delay time requirements are satisfied. By this means, it is possible to perform scheduling corresponding to QoS required for the transmission data.
Sixth Embodiment
(113) The sixth embodiment describes an aspect of the method of selecting selection channels in consideration of QoS. In this embodiment, two classes, high priorities and low priorities, are set as an example of QoS, and descriptions are made using two classes. But the classes are of an example, and do not limit meaning of QoS. For example, two or more classes may be set, or elements other than the priority may be used. This embodiment is explained using the OFDMA system as in
(114) The scheduler section 180 of the communication control apparatus 100 determines the number of selectable frequency channels as selection channels for each data from QoS of the data to transmit to the communication terminal apparatus 200, and notifies the number to the communication terminal apparatus 200. For example, settings are made so that the number of selectable frequency channels is three for high-priority data, and that the number of selectable frequency channels is one for low-priority data.
(115) The communication terminal apparatus 200 selects frequency channels in the range of the number of frequency channels notified from the communication control apparatus 100 in requesting the frequency channels to the communication control apparatus 100. At this point, as described in the first embodiment, channels with good reception quality measurement results may be selected in the range of the number of selectable frequency channels.
(116) Thus, in this embodiment, the number of channels allocated to high-priority data is relatively higher than the number of channels allocated to low-priority data, and QoS is thereby satisfied.
(117) In addition, this embodiment describes the example of setting two classes on the priority, but is applicable in the case where the number of selectable frequency channels is set corresponding to QoS (for example, priority). For example, such a case is considered that the number of selectable frequency channels is set corresponding to another element of QoS, and that QoS is divided into a plurality of stages to set the number of selectable frequency channels by stage (by level), or the like.
Seventh Embodiment
(118) The seventh embodiment describes an aspect that the communication control apparatus controls the number of frequency channels that the communication terminal apparatus notifies as selection channels, and notifies the number to the communication terminal apparatus.
(119) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, as shown in
(120)
(121) The statistical processing section 410 performs statistical processing based on the number of selection channels selected by the communication terminal apparatus 200 and channels allocated by scheduling in the scheduler section 180. Based on the number of channels allocated to each communication terminal apparatus 200 by the scheduler section 180 and the number of selection channels notified from each communication terminal apparatus 200, the statistical processing section 410 varies the number of selectable channels, specifically, so as to increase the number of selectable channels for a communication terminal apparatus 200 with a high ratio of the number of allocated channels to the number of selection channels, while decreasing the number of selectable channels for a communication terminal apparatus with a low ratio of the number of allocated channels to the number of selection channels.
(122)
(123) The ratio calculating section 411 calculates a ratio between the number of allocated channels and the number of channels allocated to the communication terminal apparatus 200, among selection channels selected by the communication terminal apparatus 200.
(124) The number-of-selectable channel controlling section 412 controls (adjusts) the number of selectable channels based on the calculation result calculated by the ratio calculating section 411.
(125) The threshold storing section 413 is a storage area for storing a threshold used by the number-of-selectable channel controlling section 412. The threshold is beforehand stored in the threshold storing section 413. Meanwhile, the threshold may be varied based on the calculation result by the statistical processing section 410 (ratio calculating section 411 or number-of-selectable channel controlling section 412).
(126) Further, in the communication control apparatus 400, the scheduler section 180 (allocation determining section 181) notifies the scheduling control information to the ratio calculating section 411. Furthermore, the judging section 170 notifies the ratio calculating section 411 of selection channel numbers (frequency channel numbers of frequency channels) among the reception quality information.
(127)
(128) The ratio calculating section 411 initializes the counter n, k, and based on the scheduling control information, extracts the number of channels N.sub.alloc, allocated to transmission data of which destination is each communication terminal apparatus 200 and a set of allocated channels X.sub.alloc, (step S51). The section 411 compares the set of allocated channels X.sub.alloc, with the nth element r.sub.n of the set of selection channels sequentially, and counts the number of channels k allocated to the communication terminal apparatus 200 among the set of selection channels (step S52 to step S55). By this means, the section 411 extract the number of allocated channels k among frequency channels (selection channels) selected by each communication terminal apparatus 200.
(129) Next, the ratio calculating section 411 calculates a ratio as a calculation result d by dividing the number of allocated channels k by the number of allocated channels N.sub.alloc, and notifies the calculation result d to the number-of-selectable channel controlling section 412 (step S56).
(130) The number-of-selectable channel controlling section 412 reads the thresholds D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 from the threshold storing section 413, and maintains a value of the number of selectable channels N when the calculation result d is larger than the first threshold D.sub.1 (Yes in step S57), while being smaller than the second threshold D.sub.2 (Yes in step S58). When the calculation result d is less than or equal to the first threshold D.sub.1 (No in step S57), the section 412 adds “1” to the number of selectable channels N (step S59). When the calculation result d is more than or equal to the second threshold D.sub.2 (No in step S58), the section 412 subtracts “1” from the number of selectable channels N (step S60). The section 412 outputs the determined number of selectable channels N to the transmission frame generating section 110 as the number-of-selectable control channel information. The numeric value of “1” to add or subtract is an example, other numeric values may be used, or the numeric value to add or subtract may be varied corresponding to a difference from the threshold.
(131) Based on the number-of-selectable channel control information output from the statistical processing section, when the number of selectable channels is varied, the transmission frame generating section 110 generates the control information to notify the communication terminal apparatus 20 of varying the number of selectable channels, and multiplexes the information into a transmission frame.
(132) When the communication terminal apparatus 200 receives the control information to notify of varying the number of selectable channels, the communication terminal apparatus 200 resets the number of selectable channels based on the control information to notify of varying the number of selectable channels.
(133)
(134) The mobile station requests data such as the control information including the number of selectable channels and the like (step S701). The base station performs a QoS survey (step S702), and the statistical processing section 410 determines the number of selectable channels (step S703), and notifies the number of selectable channels (step S704). The mobile station notifies the number of selectable channels to the selection channel selecting section 261 (step S705), the reception quality measuring section 250 measures the reception quality (step S706), and the reception quality information generating section 260 selects selection channels, and generates the reception quality information (step S707). The mobile station notifies the base station of the generated reception quality information (selection channels and the reception quality of the selection channels) (step S708).
(135) In the base station, the scheduler section 180 performs scheduling (step S709), the statistical processing section 410 performs the statistical processing (step S710), and the transmission frame generating section 110 and the like generate transmission packets (step S711), and transmit the generated transmission packets to the mobile station (step S712). Based on the last notified number of selectable channels (step S705), the mobile station measures the reception quality (step S713), selects selection channels (step S714), and notifies the reception quality information (step S715).
(136) The base station performs the scheduling (step S716), and the statistical processing (step S717), and when a change occurs in the number of selectable channels (step S718) in the statistical processing (step S717), generates a transmission packet including the selectable channel varying information (step S719) and transmits the packet to the mobile station (step S720). The mobile station notifies the updated number of selectable channels to the selection channel selecting section 261 (step S721), measures the reception quality (step S722), selects selection channels using the updated number of selectable channels (step S723), and transmits the reception quality information (step S724). The subsequent operation is a repetition of the foregoing, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
(137) Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to adaptively control the reception quality information amount from the communication terminal apparatus for use in scheduling, and it is thereby possible to suppress the reception quality information amount with a low possibility of being used in scheduling. By this means, it is possible to reduce overhead due to the uplink control information, while maintaining efficiency of scheduling.
(138) In addition, the calculation method of the ratio calculating section 411 as shown in
(139) Further, the statistical processing 410 of this embodiment can be applied to the communication control apparatus 300 as shown in
Eighth Embodiment
(140) The eighth embodiment describes an aspect where the communication terminal apparatus notifies the communication control apparatus of information associated with a transmission rate such as the MCS information and the like as the reception quality.
(141)
(142) In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the scheduler section 180 of the communication control apparatus has the MCS selecting section 182, and selects MCS based on the reception quality information notified from the communication terminal apparatus. In this embodiment, the MCS selecting function is provided on the communication terminal apparatus side.
(143)
(144) In the MCS information generating section 510 of
(145) In the MCS information generating section 510 in
(146)
(147) Thus, according to this embodiment, the communication terminal apparatus is capable of selecting MCS while selecting selection channels based on the MCS information. It is thereby possible to designate MCS on the communication terminal apparatus side.
Ninth Embodiment
(148) This embodiment describes an aspect where each communication terminal apparatus selects selection channels, by using as an allocation measurement result the MCS information notified to each communication terminal apparatus from the communication control apparatus. Generally, in the case of OFDMA with the adaptive modulation scheme introduced thereto, the communication control apparatus notifies the communication terminal apparatus of allocation information in each frequency channel, and MCS for each communication terminal apparatus in each frequency channel, and the communication terminal apparatus extracts data symbols to the communication terminal apparatus based on the scheduling information after the FFT processing, and performs demodulation and decoding processing based on the notified MCS information. In the case of such a system, by enabling all the communication terminal apparatuses to decode the MCS information for each communication terminal apparatus in each frequency channel, it is possible to obtain the effect close to notification of the reception quality information (allocation measurement results) of all the frequency channels from the communication control apparatus to the communication terminal apparatus as described in the second embodiment. This embodiment is capable of achieving the effect using the configurations as shown in
(149) In each communication terminal apparatus 500, the reception quality measuring section 250 measures the reception quality in each frequency channel. The MCS selecting section 511 selects (calculates) the MCS level meeting predetermined quality from the reception quality measurement result in each frequency channel. The selection channel selecting section 512 compares the MCS level selected in the MCS selecting section 511 with each of the MCS levels of all the channels notified from the communication control apparatus 100, and selects a channel such that the MCS level obtained from the measurement value (the reception quality measurement result of the communication terminal apparatus) is higher than the MCS level notified from the communication control apparatus 100. At this point, as the method of comparing the MCS level obtained from the measurement value with the MCS level of respective one of all the channels notified from the communication control apparatus 100, the same method is performed as in calculation of the relative reception quality described in
(150) After selecting the selection channels, the communication terminal apparatus transmits the control information including the information indicating the selection channels and the information indicating the MCS levels in the selection channels to the communication control apparatus.
(151) Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to select selection channels using the MCS information. The communication terminal apparatus is capable of selecting selection channels using the MCS information notified from the communication control apparatus. It is thereby possible to suppress the downlink control information.
Tenth Embodiment
(152) The tenth embodiment describes an aspect of scheduling in a system where a plurality of users is time-multiplexed into a transmission frame.
(153) In a system for limiting the number of users multiplexed into a single transmission frame, as in channel allocation in the communication control apparatus of the first embodiment, transmission data is selected of which destination is a communication terminal apparatus with good reception quality, for each channel. At this point, when a selected channel is a channel to be divided into a plurality of sub-channels, communication terminal apparatuses are selected in descending order of excellence of the reception quality in the divided channel corresponding to the number of multiplexable communication terminal apparatuses, and the sub-channels are allocated to the transmission data of which destinations are respective communication terminal apparatuses.
(154) Alternately, in a system for permitting a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses to be multiplexed into a single transmission frame, after allocating selection channels notified from the communication terminal apparatus using the same method as in the first embodiment, a channel that is not notified as a selection channel from any communication terminal apparatus is divided into a plurality of sub-channels to be allocated to transmission data. At this point, when an average value of the reception quality is notified, the sub-channels are sequentially allocated to transmission data of which destinations are communication terminal apparatuses with higher average values of the reception quality.
(155) Further, a plurality of channels that are not notified as selection channels from any communication terminal apparatuses may be collected, divided into a plurality of sub-channels, and allocated to transmission data of which destinations are communication terminal apparatuses with poor reception quality. By this means, even though the reception quality is poor, the transmission quality is improved by the frequency diversity effect.
(156) As the method of dividing a channel, the channel may be divided so that the sub-channel has an equal number of symbols, or the capacity of a sub-channel may be varied so as to allocate a sub-channel containing a higher number of symbols to a communication terminal apparatus having an high average value of the reception quality.
(157) Thus, in this embodiment, a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses uses a single channel, and it is thereby possible to obtain the frequency diversity effect. The transmission equality can thereby be improved.
Eleventh Embodiment
(158) The eleventh embodiment describes a case that the number of selectable channels is not notified to the communication terminal apparatus from the communication control apparatus and that a beforehand determined number is used, or an aspect where the number of selectable channels is determined on the communication terminal apparatus side.
(159) Each of the above-mentioned embodiments describes the case where the communication control apparatus determines the number of selectable channels to beforehand (periodically, or whenever varying the number of selectable channels) notify the communication terminal apparatus. However, the communication control apparatus does not need to always notify the number of selectable channels. The communication terminal apparatus is capable of using a beforehand set value as the number of selectable channels. As an example, the communication terminal apparatus is capable of determining the number of selectable channels in the method as described above.
(160) For example, the number of selectable channels may be a fixed number beforehand determined by the system or performance of the communication terminal apparatus. Further, in the system, a table may be set where QoS (each level of QoS) of data is beforehand associated with the number of selectable channels, so that the communication terminal apparatus is capable of determining the number of selectable channels based on QoS of data to request. As QoS of data, for example, the priority of transmission data to request is included.
(161) Alternately, the communication terminal apparatus may beforehand hold a threshold (measurement result threshold) that is a criterion of the reception quality measurement result, and select, as selection channels, channels exceeding the measurement result threshold among the reception quality measurement results measured by the reception quality measuring section 250.
(162) Further, it is possible to use the number of selectable channels set in advance, and the measurement result threshold. For example, the communication terminal apparatus may use a technique for selecting only frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold even when the number of the frequency channels does not reach the number of selectable channels, or selecting frequency channels corresponding to the number of selectable channels even when the number of frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold does not reach the number of selectable channels. Further, the communication terminal apparatus may use a technique for selecting frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold corresponding to the number of selectable channels or less.
(163) Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to select only frequency channels with good reception quality as selection channels. Further, it is possible to prevent an excess number of frequency channels from being selected as selection channels. It is thus possible to perform more efficient notification of the reception quality information.
(164) In addition, also in the case that the communication control apparatus determines the number of selectable channels to notify in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, it is possible to determine the number of selectable channels using a threshold as in this embodiment.
Twelfth Embodiment
(165) The twelfth embodiment describes an aspect where the communication terminal apparatus varies the number of selectable channels.
(166) The eleventh embodiment describes the case that the number of selectable channels is known, or a fixed value. In starting communications, the communication terminal apparatus requests channels in the range of the number of selectable channels as described in the eleventh embodiment.
(167)
(168) The statistical processing section 610 has the same configuration as that of the statistical processing section 410 provided in the communication terminal apparatus 400 as shown in
(169) Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to adaptively control the reception quality information amount for use in scheduling notified from the communication terminal apparatus to the communication control apparatus. The amount can be varied to be increased when the reception quality information is insufficient, while being decreased when the information is excess, and thus, can be made closer to the reception quality information amount suitable for scheduling in the communication control apparatus.
(170) Further, the number of requested channels may be varied by changing the measurement result threshold as described in the eleventh embodiment. The statistical processing section 610 compares the calculated calculation result with the first threshold D.sub.1 (calculation result threshold used in
(171) Furthermore, it is possible to use the number of selectable channels set in advance, and the measurement result threshold. For example, the communication terminal apparatus may use a technique for selecting only frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold even when the number of the frequency channels does not reach the number of selectable channels, or selecting frequency channels corresponding to the number of selectable channels even when the number of frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold does not reach the number of selectable channels. Further, the communication terminal apparatus may use a technique for selecting frequency channels exceeding the measurement result threshold corresponding to the number of selectable channels or less. The communication control apparatus may determine the number of selectable channels based on the priority of data to request transmission thereof. In addition, the control of the number of selectable channels in the communication control apparatus is described in the sixth embodiment as described previously.
(172) Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to select only frequency channels with good reception quality as selection channels. Further, it is possible to prevent an excess number of frequency channels from being selected as selection channels. It is thus possible to perform more efficient notification of the reception quality information.
Thirteenth Embodiment
(173) Each of the above-mentioned embodiments describes the case where the communication terminal apparatus selects selection channels, and reports the information indicating the reception quality measurement result itself as the information indicating the reception quality measurement result, in reporting to the communication control apparatus the reception quality information including the selection channel information for identifying the selection channels, and the information indicating the reception quality measurement results in the selection channels. This embodiment describes a case of reporting, as the information indicating the selection channel measurement result, the reception quality information including information indicating the reception quality measurement result (difference reference value) itself of at least one channel, and information indicating difference information of the reception quality measurement results of a plurality of channels and the difference reference value. The communication control apparatus and the communication terminal apparatus of this embodiment are capable of using each component described in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.
(174) For example, in the case of selecting frequency channels as shown in
(175) By this means, the communication terminal apparatus and the communication control apparatus can share the same information. Further, in the case of selecting part of frequency channels from all the bands, the distribution of the difference in the reception quality measurement result between selected selection channels i.e. the variation in the selection channel measurement result between selected selection channels is smaller than the variation in the channel measurement result among all the bands. Therefore, it is possible to represent the difference information of a plurality of reception quality measurement results with a lower number of bits (information amount).
(176) In addition, this embodiment describes the case of generating the reception quality information using the reception quality measurement result itself of Ch2, and the difference in the reception quality measurement result between Ch2 and Ch5, but a combination of a selection channel to report the reception quality measurement result itself and a selection channel to report the difference is not limited thereto. For example, the reception quality may be generated using the reception quality measurement result itself of Ch5, and the difference in the reception quality measurement result between Ch5 and Ch2. Thus, required is that the communication terminal apparatus reports the reception quality information including the information indicating the measurement result itself of at least one selection channel, and the information indicating the difference information of the reception quality measurement results of a plurality of channels, and that the communication control apparatus is capable of decoding the reception quality measurement result in each selection channel.
(177) Further, in the foregoing, a selection channel to notify its reception quality measurement result itself is selected as a channel (reference channel) to be the reference, and a difference (difference value) between the reception quality measurement result (reference measurement result, difference reference value) of the selected reference channel and each of the reception quality measurement results of the other selection channels is notified as the information to notify the reception quality results of the other selection channels, but when an average measurement value (average CINR) obtained by averaging the reception quality measurement values is calculated, the average measurement value can be used as the difference reference value as a substitute for the reception quality measurement result of the channel to be the reference. In this case, the reception quality information is generated by calculating a difference between the reception quality measurement result and average measurement result in each selection channel. In addition, a difference reference value (reference measurement result) as the reference in calculating the difference does not need to be always notified from the communication terminal apparatus to the communication control apparatus. A predetermined value may be determined in the system in advance, or either the communication control apparatus or the communication terminal apparatus may first notify the difference reference value to the communicating party, and then, the difference may be calculated using the notified difference reference value. For example, after once notifying a reception quality measurement value of an arbitrary channel as a difference reference value, for the arbitrary channel, when the reception quality measurement value is notified next, a difference from the notified difference reference value may be notified.
(178) As described above, in this embodiment, it is described that in the communication terminal apparatus, the reception quality information generating section calculates a difference value between the reception quality measurement value in the selection channel and the difference reference value as the reference of the reception quality measurement value, and generates the reception quality information including the selection channel information and the difference value, while in the communication control apparatus, the receiving section receives the reception quality information including the selection channel information and the difference value obtained by calculating a difference value between the reception quality measurement value in the selection channel and the difference reference value as the reference of the reception quality measurement value, and the scheduler section calculates the reception quality measurement value in the selection channel based on the difference value, and determines a channel to allocate to the transmission data based on the calculated reception quality measurement result.
(179) Thus, by adopting the configuration where the communication terminal apparatus selects selection channels, and reports as the information indicating the selection channel measurement results in the selection channels, the reception quality information including the information indicating at least one reception quality measurement result (reception quality measurement result itself) to be the reference, and the information indicating the difference information of the reception quality measurement result in each selection channel, and the communication control apparatus decodes the reception quality measurement result in each selection channel based on the notified reception quality information, and it is thereby possible to notify the reception quality information with more efficiency.
(180) In addition, each of the above-mentioned embodiments describes the example that the communication terminal apparatus selects selection channels based on the predetermined condition, but the case of selecting channels of a predetermined range from among a plurality of channels as the selection channels is included in the concept of selecting part of frequency channels from a plurality of channels as selection channels. For example, a case may be adopted that the communication control apparatus beforehand specifies channels for the communication terminal apparatus to report the reception quality information. In this case, the communication terminal apparatus judges the channel numbers, and is thereby capable of selecting selection channels. In selecting selection channels, and/or setting the number of selectable channels, even in the case that the predetermined condition differs from one another, there may be a case that each of the above-mentioned embodiments is applicable. Thus, in the case of selecting part of channels from a plurality of channels as selection channels, and notifying the selected reception quality information, it is possible to apply each of the above-mentioned embodiments.