Overlay of bearers in a radio communication system

Abstract

A radio system having multiple bearers overlays a relatively narrowband bearer such as P25 on a relatively wideband bearer such as LTE, for transmission of both uplink and downlink signals. The wideband bearer uses a spectrum of subcarriers which form a set of radio frequency blocks. One or more blocks or other related parts of the spectrum may be allocated to the narrowband bearer. In some cases the narrowband bearer may push through the wideband allocation using a relatively high power to dominate signals transmitted by the wideband bearer. Voice calls such as emergency calls using the narrowband bearer may be prioritised.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing resources in a multi bearer wireless communication system having a trunked radio system and a broadband data system, including:
 receiving a call request from a mobile terminal in the multi bearer communications system,   determining that no trunked radio channels are currently available in the trunked radio system,   determining that one or more frequency blocks are currently available in the broadband data system, and   assigning a trunked radio channel in one of the available broadband frequency blocks for use in the call.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further including:
 assigning the trunked radio channel in the available broadband frequency block in accordance with a policy which reduces interference with other broadband frequency blocks. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the policy provides a guard band between the trunked radio channel and active broadband frequency blocks. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  further including:
 assigning active broadband frequency blocks in accordance with a policy which reduces interference with the call in the trunked radio channel. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the mobile terminal combines trunked radio capability and broadband data capability. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the call request is made by the mobile terminal through the trunked radio system or through the broadband data system. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  further including:
 updating a database containing trunked radio channel information and broadband frequency block information with the assignment of the trunked radio channel. 
 
     
     
         8 . A trunked controller for managing resources in a multi bearer wireless communication system having a trunked radio system and a broadband data system,
 the controller having a processor and memory, the memory containing software instructions for carrying out steps including:   receiving a call request from a mobile terminal in the multi bearer communications system,   determining that no trunked radio channels are currently available in the trunked radio system,   determining that one or more frequency blocks are currently available in the broadband data system, and   assigning a trunked radio channel in one of the available broadband frequency blocks for use in the call.   
     
     
         9 . A trunked controller according to  claim 8  wherein the memory contains software instructions for the steps of:
 reviewing policies relating to allocation of trunked radio channels and broadband frequency blocks, and 
 assigning the trunked radio channel in the available broadband frequency block in accordance with a policy which reduces interference with other broadband frequency blocks. 
 
     
     
         10 . A controller according to  claim 9  wherein the policy provides a guard band between the trunked radio channel and active broadband frequency blocks. 
     
     
         11 . A method of managing resources in a multi bearer wireless communication system having a trunked radio system and a broadband data system, including:
 receiving a broadband connection request from a user in the multi bearer communications system,   determining that no frequency blocks are currently available in the broadband data system,   determining that a number of adjacent trunked radio channels are currently available in the trunked radio system, and   assigning a broadband frequency block over the available trunked radio channels for use in the connection request.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  further including:
 assigning the broadband frequency block over the available trunked radio channels in accordance with a policy which reduces interference from or with active trunked radio channels. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the policy provides a guard band between the broadband frequency block and the active trunked radio channels. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  further including:
 assigning active trunked radio channels in accordance with a policy which reduces interference with the broadband connection in the active broadband frequency block. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the connection request is sent from a mobile terminal having broadband data capability and trunked radio capability. 
     
     
         16 . A broadband scheduler for managing resources in a multi bearer wireless communication system having a trunked radio system and a broadband data system,
 the scheduler having a processor and memory, the memory containing software instructions for carrying out steps including:   receiving a broadband connection request from a user in the multi bearer communications system,   determining that no frequency blocks are currently available in the broadband data system,   determining that a number of adjacent trunked radio channels are currently available in the trunked radio system, and   assigning a broadband frequency block over the available trunked radio channels for use in the connection request.   
     
     
         17 . A scheduler according to  claim 16  wherein the memory contains software instructions for the steps of:
 reviewing policies relating to allocation of broadband frequency blocks and trunked radio channels, and 
 assigning the broadband frequency block in accordance with a policy which reduces interference with active trunked radio channels. 
 
     
     
         18 . A scheduler according to  claim 17  wherein the policy provides a guard band between the broadband frequency block and trunked radio channels. 
     
     
         19 . A scheduler according to  claim 16  wherein the memory contains software instructions for the step of:
 updating a database containing broadband frequency block information and trunked radio channel information with the assignment of the broadband frequency block. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of for managing resources in a multi bearer wireless communication system having a trunked radio system and a broadband data system including:
 receiving a request for a radio call or a data connection by a terminal in the multi bearer system,   reading availability of radio channels which could be used by the terminal in the trunked radio system,   reading availability of frequency blocks which could be used by the terminal in the broadband data system,   reviewing policies relating to use of bearers in the multi bearer wireless communication system, and   establishing the radio call or data connection according to the policies and the availability of radio channels or frequency blocks.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  further including:
 determining that the request relates to an emergency call, 
 determining that no existing radio channels are available for the call using the trunked radio system, 
 determining a radio channel in an available frequency block of the broadband data system, and 
 establishing the emergency call using the radio channel. 
 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the policies relate to one or more of:
 reduction of interference between active trunked radio channels and active broadband frequency blocks, 
 preference of bearer according to emergency status of a call, 
 preference for mode of trunked radio operation in relation to active broadband frequency blocks, or 
 preference of bearer according to signal strength or signal quality.