System and method for dynamic allocation of frequency sub-channels for wireless communication

Abstract

An OFDMA system and method for dynamic allocation of sub-channels for a plurality of base stations. The allocation of frequencies may be performed by first allocating to the base stations a first plurality of sub-channels according to a static allocation, wherein the number of sub-channels allocated to each base station is less than the number of available sub-channels, thereby resulting in available remaining sub-channels for each base station that are not assigned in the static allocation, then, after receiving a request from a base station for increased throughput in the downlink and/or uplink direction, allocating at least one additional sub-channel to the requesting base station from among said remaining sub-channels not in use for static allocation according to a dynamic allocation.

1 . A method of dynamic allocation of sub-channels in an OFDMA wireless network having a plurality of cells, for use in a base station controller, the method comprising:
 allocating to a plurality of base stations a first plurality of sub-channels according to a static allocation, wherein the number of sub-channels allocated to each base station is less than the number of available sub-channels, thereby resulting in available remaining sub-channels for each base station that are not assigned in the static allocation;   receiving a request from at least one of said base stations for increased throughput in downlink and/or uplink;   allocating at least one additional sub-channel to said requesting base station from among said remaining sub-channels not in use for static allocation according to a dynamic allocation; and   transmitting a message to said requesting base station based on said dynamic allocation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising after allocating said first plurality of sub-channels, determining available remaining sub-channels for dynamic allocation, wherein dynamically allocating said at least one additional sub-channel is based on idle sub-channels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein allocating said at least one additional sub-channel according to a dynamic allocation comprises allocating one or more sub-channels from among said remaining sub-channels based on an interference matrix. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an expected forward error correction (FEC) based on an interference matrix;   calculating based on the expected FEC an amount of throughout increase to be obtained based on allocating the additional sub-channel; and   determining whether to allocate said additional sub-channel based on the calculated amount of throughput increase.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said static allocation allocates air interface resources on a first channel and said dynamic allocation allocates air interface resources on a second channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said OFDMA wireless communication system is configured for a plurality of uplink sub-channels and a plurality of downlink sub-channels, wherein said static allocation includes one downlink sub-channel and one uplink sub-channel for each said base station, and wherein dynamically allocating said at least one additional sub-channel comprises allocating additional air interface resources from the sub-channels not assigned in the static allocation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, at a base station:
 receiving said message based on said dynamic allocation; and   transmitting to remote stations in communication with said base station to communicate according to said dynamic allocation.   
     
     
         8 . A base station controller configured to manage dynamic allocation of sub-channels for a plurality of base stations in an OFDMA wireless network, the base station controller comprising:
 a processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable medium in data communication with the processor and comprising instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
 allocate to said plurality of base stations a first plurality of sub-channels according to a static allocation, wherein the number of sub-channels allocated to each base station is less than the number of available sub-channels, thereby resulting in available remaining sub-channels for each base station that are not assigned in the static allocation; 
 receive a request from at least one of said base stations for increased downlink and/or uplink throughput; 
 allocate at least one additional sub-channel to the requesting base station from among said available remaining sub-channels according to a dynamic allocation; and, 
 transmit a message notifying of allocation of the allocation of said at least one additional sub-channel to the requesting base station. 
   
     
     
         9 . The base station controller of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the processor to:
 after allocating said first plurality of sub-channels, determine available remaining sub-channels for dynamic allocation, wherein said processor is to allocate said at least one additional sub-channel based on idle sub-channels.   
     
     
         10 . The base station controller of  claim 8 , wherein said remaining available sub-channels for dynamic allocation include air interface resources used by base stations that substantially do not interfere with other geographically proximate base stations. 
     
     
         11 . The base station controller of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is to allocate said at least one additional sub-channel according to a dynamic allocation by allocating one or more sub-channels from among said remaining sub-channels based on an interference matrix. 
     
     
         12 . The base station controller of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is to allocate said at least one additional sub-channel according to a dynamic allocation by:
 determining an expected forward error correction (FEC) based on an interference matrix;   calculating based on the expected FEC an amount of throughout increase to be obtained based on allocating the additional sub-channel; and   determining whether to allocate said additional sub-channel based on the calculated amount of throughput increase.   
     
     
         13 . An OFDMA wireless communication system including:
 a plurality of base stations;   a base station controller in communication with said plurality of base stations, said base station controller for managing dynamic allocation of sub-channels for said plurality of base stations, and configured to:
 allocate to said plurality of base stations a first plurality of sub-channels according to a static allocation, wherein the number of sub-channels allocated to each base station is less than the number of available sub-channels, thereby resulting in available remaining sub-channels for each base station that are not assigned in the static allocation, 
 receive a request from at least one of the said base stations for increased throughput in downlink and/or uplink, 
 allocate at least one additional sub-channel to said requesting base station from among said remaining sub-channels not in use for static allocation according to a dynamic allocation, and 
 transmit a message to said requesting base station on said dynamic allocation; 
   wherein said base stations are configured, upon receiving said message from the base station controller, to transmit to geographically proximate remote stations an uplink and/or downlink map based on said message received from the base station controller.