Support of plural chip rates in a cdma system

Abstract

In a CDMA system ( 100 ), two chip rates in a TDD cell are supported by: transmitting signals in the system in a frame ( 400 ) having a plurality of timeslots; operating at least a first one ( 0 - 8 ) of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a lower chip rate; and operating at least a second one ( 9 - 14 ) of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a higher chip rate. This provides the following advantages: provides backwards compatibility of a network including higher chip rate functionality with existing lower chip rate user equipment; allows greater network capacity during the transition phase from a low chip rate network to a high chip rate network; and allows a network operator with a high chip rate network to provide service to roaming users from low chip rate networks.

1 . A method for supporting of plurality of chip rates in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, the method comprising: 
 transmitting signals in the system in a frame having a plurality of timeslots;    operating at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a first one of the plurality of chip rates; and    operating at least a second one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a second one of the plurality of chip rates.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a 3GPP UMTS system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the 3GPP UMTS system comprises a TDD system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein the plurality of chip rates are integer multiples of 3.84 Mcps.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 3.84 Mcps and the second one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 7.68 Mcps.  
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 5  wherein the frame comprises beacon data in at least one of the plurality of timeslots.  
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 6  wherein the beacon data is in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the lowest of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 5  wherein the frame comprises first beacon data in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the first one of the plurality of chip rates and second beacon data in another of the plurality of timeslots operating at the second one of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 8  wherein the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are controlled independently of each other.  
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 8  wherein the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are commonly controlled.  
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 10  wherein the method comprises transmitting a plurality of instantiations of the at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame operating at the first chip rate.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of instantiations are separated in the frequency domain.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  or  12  wherein the number of the plurality of instantiations is proportional to the ratio of the bandwidth of the second chip rate system to the bandwidth of the first chip rate system.  
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 13  wherein the first chip rate system operates at substantially the same carrier frequency as the second chip rate system.  
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 14  wherein the method further comprises transmitting to a user parameters of timeslots via broadcast signalling.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the system is a UMTS TDD system, and the step of transmitting to a user parameters of timeslots comprises transmitting signals broadcast in system information blocks.  
     
     
         17 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 14  wherein the method further comprises transmitting to a user parameters of timeslots via point to point signalling.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a single allocation.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a multiplicity of allocations.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in radio resource control (RRC) messages.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in medium access control (MAC) messages.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in physical layer messages.  
     
     
         23 . The method of any one of claims  1 - 22  wherein user equipment receiving the transmitted frame autonomously determines the chip rate applied in a timeslot.  
     
     
         24 . A code division multiple access (CDMA) system for supporting a plurality of chip rates, the system comprising: 
 means for transmitting signals from a network to user equipment in the system in a frame having a plurality of timeslots;    means for operating at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a first one of the plurality of chip rates; and    means for operating at least a second one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a second one of the plurality of chip rates.    
     
     
         25 . The CDMA system of  claim 24  wherein the system comprises a 3GPP UMTS system.  
     
     
         26 . The CDMA system of  claim 25  wherein the 3GPP UMTS system comprises a TDD system.  
     
     
         27 . The CDMA system of  claim 24 ,  25  or  26  wherein the plurality of chip rates are integer multiples of substantially 3.84 Mcps.  
     
     
         28 . The CDMA system of  claim 27  wherein the first one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 3.84 Mcps and the second one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 7.68 Mcps.  
     
     
         29 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 28  wherein the frame comprises beacon data in at least one of the plurality of timeslots.  
     
     
         30 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 29  wherein the beacon data is in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the lowest of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         31 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 28  wherein the frame comprises first beacon data in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the first one of the plurality of chip rates and second beacon data in another of the plurality of timeslots operating at the second one of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         32 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 31  wherein the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are controlled independently of each other.  
     
     
         33 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 31  wherein the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are commonly controlled.  
     
     
         34 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 33  wherein the means for transmitting signals from a network to user equipment in the system comprises means for transmitting a plurality of instantiations of the at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame operating at the first chip rate.  
     
     
         35 . The CDMA system of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of instantiations are separated in the frequency domain.  
     
     
         36 . The CDMA system of  claim 34  or  35  wherein the number of the plurality of instantiations is proportional to the ratio of the bandwidth of the second chip rate system to the bandwidth of the first chip rate system.  
     
     
         37 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 36  wherein the first chip rate system operates at substantially the same carrier frequency as the second chip rate system.  
     
     
         38 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 37  wherein the system further comprises means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots via broadcast signalling.  
     
     
         39 . The CDMA system of  claim 38  wherein the system is a UMTS TDD system, and the means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots comprises means for transmitting signals broadcast in system information blocks.  
     
     
         40 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 37  wherein the system further comprises means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots via point to point signalling.  
     
     
         41 . The CDMA system of  claim 40  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a single allocation.  
     
     
         42 . The CDMA system of  claim 40  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a multiplicity of allocations.  
     
     
         43 . The CDMA system of  claim 40  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in radio resource control (RRC) messages.  
     
     
         44 . The CDMA system of  claim 40  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in medium access control (MAC) messages.  
     
     
         45 . The CDMA system of  claim 40  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in physical layer messages.  
     
     
         46 . The CDMA system of any one of claims  24 - 45  wherein the user equipment is adapted to autonomously determine the chip rate applied in a timeslot.  
     
     
         47 . A base station for use in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system supporting a plurality of chip rates, the base station comprising: 
 means for transmitting signals from the base station to user equipment in the system in a frame having a plurality of timeslots;    means for operating at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a first one of the plurality of chip rates; and    means for operating at least a second one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame at a second one of the plurality of chip rates.    
     
     
         48 . The base station of  claim 47  wherein the system comprises a 3GPP UMTS system.  
     
     
         49 . The base station of  claim 48  wherein the 3GPP UMTS system comprises a TDD system.  
     
     
         50 . The base station of  claim 47 ,  48  or  49  wherein the plurality of chip rates are integer multiples of substantially 3.84 Mcps.  
     
     
         51 . The base station of  claim 50  wherein the first one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 3.84 Mcps and the second one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 7.68 Mcps.  
     
     
         52 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 51  wherein the frame comprises beacon data in at least one of the plurality of timeslots.  
     
     
         53 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 52  wherein the beacon data is in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the lowest of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         54 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 51  wherein the frame comprises first beacon data in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the first one of the plurality of chip rates and second beacon data in another of the plurality of timeslots operating at the second one of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         55 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 54  wherein the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are controlled independently of each other.  
     
     
         56 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 54  wherein networks of the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are commonly controlled.  
     
     
         57 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 56  wherein the means for transmitting signals from the base station to user equipment in the system comprises means for transmitting a plurality of instantiations of the at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame operating at the first chip rate.  
     
     
         58 . The base station of  claim 57  wherein the plurality of instantiations are separated in the frequency domain.  
     
     
         59 . The base station of  claim 57  or  58  wherein the number of the plurality of instantiations is proportional to the ratio of the bandwidth of the second chip rate system to the bandwidth of the first chip rate system.  
     
     
         60 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 59  wherein the first chip rate system operates at substantially the same carrier frequency as the second chip rate system.  
     
     
         61 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 60  wherein the base station further comprises means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots via broadcast signalling.  
     
     
         62 . The base station of  claim 61  wherein the system is a UMTS TDD system, and the means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots comprises means for transmitting signals broadcast in system information blocks.  
     
     
         63 . The base station of any one of claims  47 - 60  wherein the base station further comprises means for transmitting to the user parameters of timeslots via point to point signalling.  
     
     
         64 . The base station of  claim 63  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a single allocation.  
     
     
         65 . The base station of  claim 63  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a multiplicity of allocations.  
     
     
         66 . The base station of  claim 63  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in radio resource control (RRC) messages.  
     
     
         67 . The base station of  claim 63  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in medium access control (MAC) messages.  
     
     
         68 . The base station of  claim 63  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in physical layer messages.  
     
     
         69 . User equipment for use in a CDMA system supporting a plurality of chip rates, the user equipment comprising: 
 means for receiving signals from a base station in a frame having a plurality of timeslots, at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame being operated at a first one of the plurality of chip rates, and at least a second one of the plurality of timeslots in the frame being operated at a second one of the plurality of chip rates.    
     
     
         70 . The user equipment of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 means for detecting in the received frame predetermined information in one of the plurality of timeslots at the first one of the plurality of chip rates; and    means for transmitting a signal to the base station indicating that the user equipment is able to operate at the second one of the plurality of chip rates.    
     
     
         71 . The user equipment of  claim 70 , wherein the means for transmitting a signal to the base station comprises means for transmitting a signal to the base station indicating that the user equipment is able to operate at both the first one of the plurality of chip rates and the second one of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         72 . The user equipment of  claim 69 ,  70  or  71  wherein the system comprises a 3GPP UMTS system.  
     
     
         73 . The user equipment of  claim 72  wherein the 3GPP UMTS system comprises a TDD system.  
     
     
         74 . The user equipment any one of claims  69 - 73  wherein the plurality of chip rates are integer multiples of substantially 3.84 Mcps.  
     
     
         75 . The user equipment of  claim 74  wherein the first one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 3.84 Mcps and the second one of the plurality of chip rates is substantially 7.68 Mcps.  
     
     
         76 . The user equipment of any one of claims  70 - 74  wherein the predetermined information comprises beacon data.  
     
     
         77 . The user equipment of  claim 75  wherein the beacon data is in one of the plurality of timeslots operating at the lowest of the plurality of chip rates.  
     
     
         78 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 77  wherein networks of the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are controlled independently of each other.  
     
     
         79 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 77  wherein networks of the first and second of the plurality of chip rates are commonly controlled.  
     
     
         80 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 79  wherein the user equipment is adapted to receive in the same frame the timeslots at a higher chip rate and the timeslots at a lower chip rate.  
     
     
         81 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 80  wherein the first chip rate system operates at substantially the same carrier frequency as the second chip rate system.  
     
     
         82 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 81  further comprising means for receiving from the base station parameters of timeslots via broadcast signalling.  
     
     
         83 . The user equipment of  claim 82  wherein the system is a UMTS TDD system, and the means for receiving from the base station parameters of timeslots comprises means for receiving signals broadcast in system information blocks.  
     
     
         84 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 82  further comprising means for receiving from the base station parameters of timeslots via point to point signalling.  
     
     
         85 . The user equipment of  claim 84  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a single allocation.  
     
     
         86 . The user equipment of  claim 84  wherein the point to point signalling defines the timeslot parameters for a multiplicity of allocations.  
     
     
         87 . The user equipment of  claim 84  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in radio resource control (RRC) messages.  
     
     
         88 . The user equipment of  claim 84  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in medium access control (MAC) messages.  
     
     
         89 . The user equipment of  claim 84  wherein the system comprises a UMTS TDD system, and the point to point signalling is carried in physical layer messages.  
     
     
         90 . The user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 89  wherein the user equipment is adapted to autonomously determine the chip rate applied in a timeslot.  
     
     
         91 . A computer program element comprising computer program means for performing substantially the method of any one of claims  1 - 23 .  
     
     
         92 . An integrated circuit comprising substantially the means for transmitting signals, the means for operating at least a first one of the plurality of timeslots, and the means for operating at least a second one of the plurality of timeslots in the base station of any one of claims  47 - 23 , or comprising substantially the means for receiving signals in the user equipment of any one of claims  69 - 90 .