Selecting optimal transmit formats for transmissions over allocated time durations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are presented to select optimal transmission formats for transmissions to a single user or simultaneous transmissions to multiple users. Priority information and channel state information associated with each user are used to determine the optimal transmit formats. In particular, said information is used to maximize a given revenue function that enhances system throughput while maintaining fairness among users. Once transmit formats are determined, any unallocated system resources, such as unused Walsh codes or transmission power, can be evenly or proportionately distributed among the users.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for transmitting data from a base station to at least one remote station, comprising: 
 determining a priority for each of the at least one remote station;    using the priority for each of the at least one remote station to determine at least one transmit format, including; 
 determining that a plurality of transport formats are supported by the base station, including; 
 determining whether a number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transport formats are less than a first predetermined amount;  
 determining whether the total minimum power required for transmission is less than a second predetermined amount;  
 determining whether a data payload of each of the plurality of possible transport formats is less than an allocated amount;  
 determining whether frame durations of each of the plurality of transport formats are equal;  
 if the number of Walsh codes are less than the first predetermined amount, and the total minimum power required for transmission is less than the second predetermined amount, and the data payload of each of the plurality of transport formats is less than the allocated amount, and the frame durations of each of the plurality of transport formats are equal, then designating that the plurality of transport formats are supported by the base station;  
 
   formatting the data payload into a message frame in accordance with a selected transmit format, wherein the selected transmit format is selected from the at least one transmit format; and    transmitting the message frame to the at least one remote station.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for transmitting data from a base station to at least one remote station, comprising: 
 a memory element;    a processor configured to execute a set of instructions stored within the memory element, the set of instructions for: 
 determining a priority for each of the at least one remote station;  
 using the priority for each of the at least one remote station to determine at least one transmit format, including; 
 determining that a plurality of transport formats are supported by the base station, including; 
 determining whether a number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transport formats are less than a first predetermined amount;  
 determining whether the total minimum power required for transmission is less than a second predetermined amount;  
 determining whether a data payload of each of the plurality of transport formats is less than an allocated amount;  
 determining whether frame durations of each of the plurality of transport formats are equal;  
 
 
   formatting the data payload into a message frame in accordance with a selected transmit format, wherein the selected transmit format is selected from the at least one transmit format; and    transmitting the message frame to the remote station.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for determining the optimal transmit format for data transmitted from a base station to at least one remote station, comprising: 
 means for determining a priority for each of the at least one remote station;    means for using the priority for each of the at least one remote station to determine at least one transmit format, including; 
 means for determining that a plurality of transport formats are supported by the base station, including; 
 means for determining whether a number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transport formats are less than a first predetermined amount;  
 means for determining whether the total minimum power required for transmission is less than a second predetermined amount;  
 means for determining whether a data payload of each of the plurality of possible transport formats is less than an allocated amount;  
 means for determining whether frame durations of each of the plurality of transport formats are equal;  
 
 means for formatting the data payload into a message frame in accordance with a selected transmit format, wherein the selected transmit format is selected from the at least one transmit format; and  
   means for transmitting the message frame to the remote station.    
     
     
         4 . A method for selecting a transmit format for a transmission to a remote station, comprising: 
 determining that a plurality of transmit formats are supported by the base station; and    selecting, from the plurality of transmit formats, at least one transmit format for transmission to the remote station based on one or more factors including a first factor indicative of the number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transmit formats and a second factor indicative of the transmit power used by the plurality of transmit formats.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the selecting includes: 
 selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats based on the transmit format which uses the fewest number of Walsh codes.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the selecting includes: 
 selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats, which use the minimum transmission power.  
 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for selecting a transmit format for a transmission to a remote station, comprising: 
 determining that a plurality of transmit formats are supported by the base station; and    selecting, from the plurality of transmit formats, at least one transmit format for transmission to the remote station based on one or more factors including a first factor indicative of the number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transmit formats and a second factor indicative of the transmit power used by the plurality of transmit formats.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the selecting includes: 
 selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats based on the transmit format which uses the fewest number of Walsh codes.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the selecting includes: 
 selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats, which use the minimum transmission power.  
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for selecting a transmit format for a transmission to a remote station, comprising: 
 means for determining that a plurality of transmit formats are supported by the base station; and    means for selecting, from the plurality of transmit formats, at least one transmit format for transmission to the remote station based on one or more factors including a first factor indicative of the number of Walsh codes used by the plurality of transmit formats and a second factor indicative of the transmit power used by the plurality of transmit formats.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the means for selecting includes: 
 means for selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats based on the transmit format which uses the fewest number of Walsh codes. cm  12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the means for selecting includes:  
 means for selecting the transmit format from the plurality of transmit formats, which use the minimum transmission power.