Control structures for contention-based packet data services in wideband CDMA

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting packet data over a cellular telecommunications network is presented. A novel medium access control (MAC) logical layer is implemented between a service option layer and multiplex sublayer. The MAC layer handles the multiple accesses of packet users over selected dedicated traffic channels. The MAC layer provides a multiple access control function for packet data users only. Users requiring only circuit switched services (voice calls) are not serviced through the MAC layer multiple access control function. If a user has simultaneous circuit switched and packet data services operating, the MAC layer multiple access control function handles the packet data services, while the circuit switched services are handled simultaneously by bypassing the MAC layer multiple access control function.

1. A method for establishing packet data services in a telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a MAC layer connection between a first and second transceiver, said second transceiver associated with one of a plurality of base stations;  
 establishing a plurality of virtual connections for said MAC layer connection, each of said plurality of virtual connections established with one of said plurality of base stations and each associated with a separate MAC_ID;  
 receiving packet data at said MAC layer in said first transceiver, said packet data received from a ink layer;  
 determining, in response to receiving said packet data, whether a first traffic channel from said first transceiver to said second transceiver has been established for carrying circuit switched communications between  
 a multiplex layer of said first transceiver and a multiplex layer of said second transceiver prior to establishment of said MAC layer connection; and  
 if it is so determined, establishing at least one second traffic channel between said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver, controlling multiple access of said packet data to said multiplex layer of said first transceiver through said MAC layer, and multiplexing said circuit switched communications and said packet data on said first traffic channel and said packet data on said at least one second traffic channel through said multiplex layer;  
 else, if it is determined that a first traffic channel has not been established, establishing a first traffic channel and at least one second traffic channel between said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver, controlling multiple access of said packet data to said multiplex layer through said MAC layer, and multiplexing said packet data onto said first traffic channel and said at least one second traffic channel through said multiplex layer.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver each comprise a single multiplex layer and wherein said single multiplex layer of said first transceiver multiplexes said circuit switched communication and said packet data onto a single set of channels comprising said first traffic channel and said at least one second traffic channel. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver each comprise a first multiplex layer and a second multiplex layer and wherein said first multiplex layer of said first transceiver multiplexes said circuit switched communications onto a first set of channels, and said second multiplex layer of said first transceiver multiplexes said packet data onto a second set of channels. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said first set of channels comprises said first traffic channel and said second set of channels comprises said at least one second traffic channel. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said MAC layer comprises a radio link protocol (RLP) layer. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said service option protocol layer comprises a radio link protocol (RLP) layer. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for establishing packet data services in a telecommunications system, said apparatus comprising:
 means for establishing a MAC layer connection between a first and second transceiver, said second transceiver associated with one of a plurality of base stations;  
 means for establishing a plurality of virtual connections for said MAC layer connection, each of said plurality of virtual connections established with one of said Plurality of base stations and each associated with a separate MAC_ID  
 means for receiving packet data at said MAC layer in said first transceiver, said packet data received from a link layer;  
 means for determining, in response to receiving said packet data in said means for receiving, whether a first traffic channel from said first transceiver to said second transceiver has been established for carrying circuit switched communications between a multiplex layer of said first transceiver and a multiplex layer of said second transceiver prior to establishment of said MAC layer connection; and  
 means for establishing, in response to a positive determination in said means for determining, at least one second traffic channel between said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver, said means for establishing further comprising means for controlling multiple access of said packet data to said multiplex layer of said first transceiver through said MAC layer, and means for multiplexing said circuit switched communications and said packet data on said first traffic channel and said packet data on said at least one second traffic channel in said multiplex layer; and  
 means for establishing, in response to a negative determination in said means for determining, a first traffic channel and at least one second traffic channel between said multiplex layer of said first transceiver and said multiplex layer of said second transceiver, said means for establishing further comprising means for controlling multiple access of said packet data to said multiplex layer in said MAC layer, and means for multiplexing said packet data onto said first traffic channel and said at least one second traffic channel in said multiplex layer.  
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said multiplex layer of said first transceiver comprises a single multiplex layer and wherein said means for multiplexing said circuit switched communication and said packet data multiplexes said circuit switched communication and said packet data onto a single set of channels comprising said first traffic channel and said at least one second traffic channel. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said multiplex layer of said first transceiver comprises a first multiplex layer and a second multiplex layer and wherein said means for multiplexing said circuit switched communications and said packet data comprises means for multiplexing said circuit switched communications onto a first set of channels, and means for multiplexing said packet data onto a second set of channels. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said first set of channels comprises said first traffic channel and said second set of channels comprises said at least one second traffic channel. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said MAC layer comprises a radio link protocol (RLP) layer. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said service option protocol layer comprises a radio link protocol (RLP) layer. 
     
     
       13. A method for establishing packet data services in a telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of:
 establishing a MAC layer connection between a first and second transceiver, said second transceiver associated with one of a plurality of base stations;  
 placing said MAC layer connection in a virtual traffic channel state, wherein said virtual traffic channel state comprises a plurality of virtual connections, each associated with its own MAC_ID and each associated with one of said plurality of base stations; and  
 receiving packet data at said MAC layer in said first transceiver and  creating a physical traffic channel for packet data service between a multiplex layer of  said first transceiver and a multiplex layer of  said second transceiver, wherein said physical traffic channel is associated with a virtual connection of said plurality of virtual connections.  
 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for establishing packet data services in a telecommunications system, said apparatus comprising:
 means for establishing a MAC layer connection between a first and second transceiver, said second transceiver associated with one of a plurality of base stations;  
 means for placing said MAC layer connection in a virtual traffic channel state, wherein said virtual traffic channel state comprises a plurality of virtual connections, each associated with its own MAC_ID and each associated with one of said plurality of base stations; and  
 means for receiving packet data at said MAC layer in said first transceiver and  creating a physical traffic channel for packet data service between a multiplex layer of  said first transceiver and a multiplex layer of  said second transceiver, wherein said physical traffic channel is associated with a virtual connection of said plurality of virtual connections.  
 
     
     
       15. A mobile station for providing packet data services in a telecommunications system including a plurality of base stations, the mobile station comprising:
   a Medium Access Control  ( MAC )  function controller for establishing a plurality of virtual connections for packet data service, each of said plurality of virtual connections associated with its own MAC   —   ID and a separate base station of the plurality of base stations, said MAC function controller, further, for receiving control information over a control channel from a selected base station of the plurality of base stations, wherein said control information is associated with a MAC   —   ID and a virtual connection of said plurality of virtual connections between said selected base station and the mobile station, said MAC function controller further for controlling operation of the mobile station in packet data services between the mobile station and said selected base station according to said control information.     
     
     
       16. The mobile station of  claim 15 , wherein said control information is used by said MAC function controller to establish a physical traffic channel between the mobile station and said selected base station. 
     
     
       17. The mobile station of  claim 16 , wherein said physical traffic channel is established on the forward link. 
     
     
       18. The mobile station of  claim 16 , wherein said physical traffic channel is established on the reverse link. 
     
     
       19. A method for controlling packet data services in a mobile station operating in a telecommunications system including a plurality of base stations comprising:
   establishing a plurality of virtual connections for packet data service, each of said plurality of virtual connections associated with its own MAC   —   ID and a separate base station of the plurality of base stations;        receiving control information on a control channel from a selected base station of the plurality of base stations, said control information associated with a MAC   —   ID and a virtual connection of said plurality of virtual connections between said selected base station and the mobile station; and        controlling operation of the mobile station, in packet data services between the mobile station and said selected base station according to said control information.     
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said step of controlling includes using said control information to establish a physical traffic channel between the mobile station and said selected base station. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical traffic channel is established on the forward link. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein said physical traffic channel is established on the reverse link.