Carrier Allocation in Multi-Carrier Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-carrier wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing and allocating carriers to support high-rate data transmission and multimedia services, particularly in balancing power allocation and quality of service (QoS) requirements across multiple flows in a reverse link communication.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a method for carrier allocation and management that involves determining the flow set, payload size, and power level for packets transmitted on the reverse link, using techniques such as merging concurrent low latency and high capacity flows, policing data flow, and dynamically adjusting power allocation based on sector loading and QoS requirements, with the aid of mechanisms like token buckets and ramping functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-carrier modulation is used to support high-rate data transmission and multimedia services, then data transmission rate is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of carrier management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments carrier management into separate functional modules: a flow merger that combines multiple flows (data, signaling, control) into unified carriers, and a power controller that independently manages power allocation. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by breaking down the complex carrier management task into manageable, specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow merger is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple types of flows (data flows, signaling flows, control flows) simultaneously across multiple carriers. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate management mechanisms for each flow type, thereby reducing overall carrier management complexity while supporting high-rate data transmission.
2Reliability
If power allocation is increased to support multiple concurrent flows, then quality of service is improved, but interference between access terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power controller implements local quality control by allocating power specifically to the flow merger output rather than uniformly to all carriers. This targeted power allocation ensures that QoS requirements are met for specific flows while minimizing unnecessary power transmission that would cause interference, thus resolving the contradiction between service quality and interference reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow merger acts as an intermediary between multiple input flows and the power-controlled transmission channel. It consolidates and conditions the combined flow before power allocation, allowing the power controller to manage interference at a single point rather than dealing with multiple separate flows, thereby maintaining QoS while reducing terminal interference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate carrier allocation is used for each flow, then flow independence is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow merger combines multiple independent flows (data, signaling, control) into unified carrier streams while maintaining the logical independence of each flow through separate processing paths. This merging approach improves resource utilization efficiency by consolidating flow management into a single mechanism rather than requiring separate carrier allocation for each flow, while still preserving flow independence through the modular architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to carrier allocation and management in multi-carrier communication systems. In some embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to an access terminal on a forward link may be determined by an access network, and the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on a reverse link may be based on a cooperative process between the access terminal and the access network. In other embodiments, the number of carriers assigned to the access terminal on the reverse link may also be determined by the access network, e.g., in relation to the scheduling information received from the access terminal.