Method and system for radio resource allocation

Abstract

The present technology provides a computer-implemented method and system for performing frequency selective scheduling between a user equipment (UE) and a base station. The UE selects a sub-band within a predetermined system bandwidth based on observed radio conditions. The UE then communicates the selected sub-band to the base station. The base station then selects a LTE resource block having a frequency range falling within the sub-band. The selected resource block is then used for communication between the base station and the UE. The process may be repeated at a frequency related to the channel coherence.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for performing frequency selective scheduling between a user equipment (UE) and a base station, the method comprising:
 a) selecting, by the UE, a sub-band within a predetermined system bandwidth based on observed radio conditions;   b) communicating the selected sub-band from the UE to the base station;   c) selecting, by the base station, a LTE resource block having a frequency range falling within the sub-band; and   d) using the selected resource block for communication between the base station and the UE.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the selected sub-band from the UE to the base station comprises embedding an indication of the selected sub-band within a CQI message transmitted from the UE to the base station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a resource assignment message from the base station to the UE using the selected sub-band, the resource assignment message indicative of the selected resource block. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the resource assignment message is transmitted using the selected resource block. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the UE is configured to monitor all resource block frequencies within the selected sub-band for the resource assignment message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to use the selected resource block for transmission of a message to the UE and the UE is configured to monitor the selected resource block for reception of the message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing steps (a) through (d) repeatedly. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein repetition of steps (a) through (d) is performed at a frequency which is selected based at least in part on an expected channel coherence time of sub-bands within the predetermined system bandwidth. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein step (b) of a current iteration of the method is performed concurrently with step (d) of a prior iteration of the method. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein step (d) of a current iteration of the method is performed in a TTI immediately following step (b) of the current iteration of the method. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) when communication conditions fall below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (d) are repeated at a rate which increases with data traffic volume. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sub-band is selected from a plurality of overlapping sub-bands. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the observed radio conditions include transmission signal quality of the base station on at least one sub-band, as observed by the UE. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UE is configured to observe radio conditions on at least one sub-band at times when the UE has determined that no communication between the UE and the base station will occur. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (d) are performed when data traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, and otherwise the sub-band is selected randomly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected sub-band has a bandwidth of between 180 kHz and 1.4 MHz. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising a user equipment (UE) and a base station, the system configured for performing frequency selective scheduling between the UE and the base station and comprising:
 a) a sub-band selection module of the UE, the sub-band selection module configured to select a sub-hand within a predetermined system bandwidth based on observed radio conditions;   b) communication means for communicating the selected sub-band from the UE to the base station; and   c) a resource block selection module of the base station, the resource block selection module configured to select a LTE resource block having a frequency range falling within the sub-band;   wherein the system is further configured to use the selected resource block for communication between the base station and the UE.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the UE comprises a communication module configured to communicate the selected sub-band to the base station by embedding an indication of the selected sub-band within a CQI message transmitted to the base station. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the base station comprises a communication module configured to transmit a resource assignment message to the UE using the selected sub-band, the resource assignment message indicative of the selected resource block. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the UE further comprises a monitoring module configured to monitor all resource block frequencies within the selected sub-band for the resource assignment message. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said sub-band selection and resource block selection is performed repeatedly. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a current sub-band selection performed concurrently with use of a previously selected resource block for communication. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a current sub-band selection performed in a TTI immediately prior to use of the current selected resource block for communication. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the UE is configured to observe radio conditions on at least one sub-band at times when the UE has determined that no communication between the UE and the base station will occur. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said sub-band selection and resource block selection is performed when data traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, and otherwise the sub-band is selected randomly. 
     
     
         27 . A computer program product comprising a memory having computer readable code embodied therein, for execution by a CPU, for performing operations for performing frequency selective scheduling between a user equipment (UE) and a base station, the operations comprising:
 a) selecting, by the UE, a sub-band within a predetermined system bandwidth based on observed radio conditions;   b) communicating the selected sub-band from the UE to the base station;   c) selecting, by the base station, a LTE resource block having a frequency range falling within the sub-band; and   d) using the selected resource block for communication between the base station and the UE.