Methods and systems for transmission of multiple modulated signals over wireless networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for requesting and allocating bandwidth in a broadband wireless communication system. The method and apparatus includes a combination of techniques that allow a plurality of CPEs to communicate their bandwidth request messages to respective base stations. One technique includes a “polling” method whereby a base station polls CPEs individually or in groups and allocates bandwidth specifically for the purpose of allowing the CPEs to respond with bandwidth requests. The polling of the CPEs by the base station may be in response to a CPE setting a “poll-me bit” or, alternatively, it may be periodic. Another technique comprises “piggybacking” bandwidth requests on bandwidth already allocated to a CPE. Currently active CPEs request bandwidth using unused portions of uplink bandwidth that is already allocated to the CPE. The CPE is responsible for distributing the allocated uplink bandwidth in a manner that accommodates the services provided by the CPE.

1 . A method of operating a base station, comprising:
 participating in a registration process to assign a basic connection identifier (ID) to a wireless cellular mobile unit;   reserving a set of connection IDs for use in multicast services;   transmitting data to the wireless cellular mobile unit in association with the basic connection ID;   receiving data from the wireless cellular mobile unit in association with the basic connection ID;   transmitting multicast video data to the wireless cellular mobile unit and at least one other wireless cellular mobile unit in association with a connection ID from the set of reserved connection IDs.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising maintaining uplink and downlink sub-frame maps representative of the bandwidth allocations in uplink and downlink communication paths. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the multicast video data is associated with a multicast video service, the method further comprising assigning the multicast video service to the connection ID from the set of reserved connection IDs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the connection ID assigned to the multicast video service is provided to the wireless cellular mobile unit and the at least one other wireless cellular mobile unit when the service is provisioned. 
     
     
         5 . A base station for communication with a plurality of wireless cellular mobile units in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:
 a transmitter operable to transmit downlink (DL) traffic to the wireless cellular mobile units; and   one or more processors having a media access control (MAC) module executable by the one or more processors and configured to   participate in a registration process to assign a basic connection identifier (ID) to a wireless cellular mobile unit,   reserve a set of connection IDs for use in multicast services,   transmit data to the wireless cellular mobile unit in association with the basic connection ID,   receive data from the wireless cellular mobile unit in association with the basic connection ID, and   transmit multicast video data to the wireless cellular mobile unit and at least one other wireless cellular mobile unit in association with a connection ID from the set of reserved connection IDs.