Method and System for Aggregating Messages

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed that support the aggregation of acknowledgement messages and control messages. Advantageously, acknowledgement and negative acknowledgement indications for multiple client nodes are combined into a single aggregated message which is broadcast or multicast to the multiple client nodes. Based on unique identifiers assigned to each client node, client nodes are grouped such that the aggregated acknowledgement messages can be efficiently encoded to conserve both network capacity when they are transmitted, as well as processing capacity when they are parsed by the client nodes. If code division multiple access (CDMA) technology is used, the aggregated acknowledgment message can be transmitted without CDMA spreading to effectively broadcast or multicast it to multiple client nodes. A similar technique can be employed for the efficient broadcast or multicast of aggregated control messages.

1 . A method for aggregated acknowledgement of received packets in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes an access node and a plurality of client nodes, wherein each client node is distinguished by a client node identifier that is unique within the plurality of client nodes, the method comprising:
 maintaining a division of the plurality of client nodes into groups based on each client node's unique identifier;   receiving at the access node a packet from each of the client nodes in a given group, wherein all of the packets from the client nodes in the given group are received within a given time period; and   responsive to the access node receiving the packets from the client nodes in the given group, the access node transmitting an aggregated acknowledgement message (AAM) to all client nodes in the given group, wherein the AAM contains acknowledgement data for each packet received from the client nodes in the group.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the AAM comprises:
 a preamble indicating that the AAM contains aggregated acknowledgements;   a group identifier indicating the given group of client nodes to which the acknowledgements relate; and   a series of acknowledgements, each acknowledging a packet from one of the client nodes within the given group.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the client nodes in the given group are distinguished by unique client node identifiers that are sequentially numbered. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the series of acknowledgements is ordered according to the sequentially numbered unique client node identifiers of the client nodes in the given group, whereby each client node can determine its respective acknowledgement based upon its unique client node identifier. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a client node in the given group receiving the AAM; and   the client node in the given group locating the client node's respective acknowledgement based upon the client node's unique client node identifier.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the unique client node identifiers are medium access control identifiers (MAC_IDs). 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the group identifiers of each group of client nodes are numbered sequentially based on the MAC_IDs of the client nodes within each group, and the AAM designates a group by indicating the group identifier of the group. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication system is a wireless network, the client nodes are wireless communication devices, and the access node is a component of a radio access network. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the communication system operates in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wherein the AAM is transmitted in within a phase of a modulation cycle, and wherein the AAM is directed to more than one client node by not performing CDMA spreading procedures on the AAM. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the unique client node identifiers are MAC_IDs, and wherein the AAM further contains a series of control bits, including CDMA reverse power control (RPC) bits and CDMA data request channel lock (DRCLock) bits, wherein the series of control bits is ordered according to the MAC_IDs of the client nodes in the given group, whereby each client node can determine its respective control bits based upon the client node's MAC_ID. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client nodes transmit packets in accordance with a hybrid automatic repeat request protocol and the access node transmits acknowledgement messages in accordance with a hybrid automatic repeat request protocol. 
   
   
       12 . A communication system supporting aggregated acknowledgement of received packets, the system comprising:
 a plurality of client nodes, wherein each client node is distinguished by a client node identifier that is unique within the plurality of client nodes, and wherein each client node is assigned to a group based on its unique client node identifier;   an access node, storing data representing the assignment of the client nodes to the groups, capable of executing the steps of:
 receiving a packet from each client node in a given group; 
 determining that all of the packets received from the client nodes were received within a given time period; and 
 responsively, transmitting an aggregated acknowledgement message (AAM), wherein the AAM contains acknowledgement data for each packet received from the client nodes within the given time period. 
   
   
   
       13 . The communication system of  claim 12 , wherein the AAM comprises:
 a preamble indicating that the AAM contains aggregated acknowledgements;   a group identifier indicating the given group of client nodes to which the acknowledgements relate; and   a series of acknowledgements, each acknowledging a packet from one of the client nodes within the given group.   
   
   
       14 . The communication system of  claim 13 , wherein the client nodes in the given group are distinguished by unique client node identifiers that are sequentially numbered, and wherein the series of acknowledgements is ordered according to the sequentially numbered unique client node identifiers of the client nodes in the given group, whereby each client node can determine its respective acknowledgement based upon its unique client node identifier. 
   
   
       15 . The communication system of  claim 14 , wherein the unique client node identifiers are medium access control identifiers (MAC_IDs), and wherein the groups of client nodes are numbered sequentially based on the MAC_IDs of the client nodes within each group, and the AAM designates a group by indicating the number of the group. 
   
   
       16 . The communication system of  claim 12 , wherein the communication system operates in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wherein the AAM is transmitted in within a phase of a modulation cycle, and wherein the AAM is directed to more than one client node by not performing CDMA spreading procedures on the AAM. 
   
   
       17 . An method for supporting aggregated acknowledgement of received packets at an access node of a communication system, the method comprising:
 assigning each client node of a plurality of client nodes a client node identifier that is unique within the plurality of client nodes;   placing each client node of the plurality of client nodes into a group based on its unique client node identifier;   receiving a plurality of packets from at least two of the plurality of client nodes within a given time period;   determining, for a given group of client nodes, if packets were received from all of the client nodes in the given group;   if packets were received from all of the client nodes in the given group, then transmitting an aggregated acknowledgement message (AAM) to the client nodes in the given group, wherein the AAM contains acknowledgement data relating to the packets transmitted by each of the client nodes in the given group; and   if packets were not received from all of the client nodes in the given group, then transmitting individual acknowledgement messages to each client node in the given group from which a packet was received.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the AAM comprises:
 a preamble indicating that the AAM contains aggregated acknowledgements;   an group identifier indicating the given group of client nodes to which the acknowledgements relate; and   a series of acknowledgements, each acknowledging a packet from one of the client nodes within the given group.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the client nodes in the given group are distinguished by unique client node identifiers that are sequentially numbered, and wherein the series of acknowledgements is ordered according to the sequentially numbered unique client node identifiers of the client nodes in the given group, whereby each client node can determine its respective acknowledgement based upon its unique client node identifier. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the unique client node identifiers are medium access control identifiers (MAC_IDs), and wherein the groups of client nodes are numbered sequentially based on the MAC_IDs of the client nodes within each group, and the AAM designates a group by indicating the group identifier of the group. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the communication system operates in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wherein the AAM is transmitted in within a phase of a modulation cycle, and wherein the AAM is directed to more than one client node by not performing CDMA spreading procedures on the AAM. 
   
   
       22 . A method for supporting transmission of an aggregated control message (ACM) from an access node of a communication system, the method comprising:
 assigning each client node of a plurality of client nodes a client node identifier that is unique within the plurality of client nodes;   placing each client node of the plurality of client nodes into a group based on its unique client node identifier, wherein the client nodes in each group are distinguished by unique client node identifiers that are sequentially numbered;   determining, for a given group of client nodes, if the access node is to transmit a single ACM to the clients in a given group;   if the determination is that the access node is to transmit a single ACM to the clients in the given group, then transmitting an ACM to the client nodes in the given group, wherein the ACM contains control bits for the client nodes in the given group; and   if the determination is that the access node is not to transmit identical control information to each client node in the given group, then transmitting individual control messages to each client node in the given group.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein (i) the unique client node identifiers are medium access control identifiers (MAC_IDs), (ii) the groups of client nodes are numbered sequentially based on the MAC_IDs of the client nodes within each group, and the ACM designates a given group by indicating the group identifier of the given group, (iii) the communication system operates in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wherein the ACM is transmitted in within a phase of a modulation cycle, and (iv) the ACM is directed to more than one client node by not performing CDMA spreading procedures on the ACM, and wherein the ACM comprises:
 a preamble indicating that the ACM contains aggregated control bits, wherein the control bits are distinct for each client node in the given group;   a group identifier indicating the given group of client nodes to which the control bits relate; and   a series of control bits, including CDMA reverse power control (RPC) bits and CDMA data request channel lock (DRCLock) bits, wherein the series of control bits is ordered according to the sequentially numbered MAC_IDs of the client nodes in the given group, whereby each client node can determine its respective control bits based upon the client node's MAC_ID.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein (i) the unique client node identifiers are medium access control identifiers (MAC_IDs), (ii) the groups of client nodes are numbered sequentially based on the MAC_IDs of the client nodes within each group, and the ACM designates a given group by indicating the group identifier of the given group, (iii) the communication system operates in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wherein the ACM is transmitted in within a phase of a modulation cycle, and (iv) the ACM is directed to more than one client node by not performing CDMA spreading procedures on the ACM, the method further comprising:
 determining that the control information consists of the same set of bits for each client node in the given group, and responsively generating an ACM that includes:   a preamble indicating that the ACM contains aggregated control bits, wherein the control bits are the same for all client nodes in the given group;   a group identifier indicating the given group of client nodes to which the control bits relate; and   a single set of control bits, including CDMA reverse power control (RPC) bits and CDMA data request channel lock (DRCLock) bits.