Abstract: A radio communication system has a random access channel for the transmission of data (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having packets of data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. A problem with known systems of this type is that a secondary station requesting access also specifies which of a plurality of channels it wishes to access. If that channel is busy access is denied, even if other suitable channels are available. In the present system the primary station transmits a random access channel availability (AV) message (302) once per frame to inform secondary stations about the resources currently available. Hence a secondary station can select a channel known to be free. If no channels are available the secondary station can avoid a wasted access attempt.

Abstract: A radio communication system has a random access channel for the transmission of data (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having packets of data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. A problem with known systems of this type is that a secondary station requesting access also specifies which of a plurality of channels it wishes to access. If that channel is busy access is denied, even if other suitable channels are available. In the present system the primary station transmits a random access channel availability (AV) message (302) once per frame to inform secondary stations about the resources currently available. Hence a secondary station can select a channel known to be free. If no channels are available the secondary station can avoid a wasted access attempt.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station transmits a preamble to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimizing interference generated by the transmission.

Abstract: A radio communication system has a random access channel for the transmission of data (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having packets of data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. The primary station transmits a random access channel availability (AV) message (302) once per frame to inform secondary stations about the resources currently available. Hence a secondary station can select a channel known to be free. If no channels are available the secondary station can avoid a wasted access attempt.

Abstract: A radio communication system has means for improving power control of a communication channel for the transmission of data after an interruption in the transmission. This is done by adjusting the transmission power immediately after the interruption by an offset from the power used before the interruption. The offset may be fixed or may be determined from the transmission power in the period before the interruption. This technique reduces, on average, the time taken for power control to be re-established, thereby addressing the problem that data transmissions immediately after the interruption are likely to be corrupted if the power level is too low, or to generate extra interference if the power level is too high.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for communicating in a network comprising at least one primary station communicating with at least one secondary station, comprising (a) the secondary station sending to the primary station a buffer status report representative of the amount of data in a buffer of the secondary station, (b) in absence of acknowledgement from the primary station, the secondary station retransmitting the buffer status report and, (c) if a maximum number of retransmissions has been reached, the secondary station sending a further buffer status report to the primary station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of communicating in a network, comprising a secondary station transmitting to a primary station a data packet comprising a report, the secondary station monitoring before transmission of the packet whether said packet includes an indication of the order of transmission in a sequence of transmitted packets, and adding an indication of the order of transmission in a sequence of transmitted packets.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication station including queuing data units, estimating the transmission delay of at least one of the data units in the queue, and if the estimated transmission delay exceeds a threshold, requesting permission to transmit at least one data unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for communicating between a primary station and a secondary station comprising (a) at the secondary station, upon arrival of a data packet to be transmitted to the primary station, buffering said data packet in a buffer, (b) at the secondary station, after the expiration of a time period starting at arrival of the data packet, transmitting to the primary station a request for an uplink transmission resource if a grant of uplink transmission resource is not received during the said time period, (c) at the primary station, granting to the secondary station an uplink transmission resource.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method for communicating between a primary station and a secondary station comprising (a) at the secondary station, upon arrival of a data packet to be transmitted to the primary station, buffering said data packet in a buffer, and transmitting to the primary station a request for an uplink transmission resource if a request condition is satisfied, said request condition being based on at least one previous grant of uplink transmission resource, (b) at the primary station, granting to the secondary station an uplink transmission resource to be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for allocating resources to a plurality of secondary stations for enabling communication between a primary station and the plurality of secondary stations, comprising the steps of a) grouping the resources into at least a first set of resources and a second set of resources; b) allocating a first resource of the first set of resources to a first secondary station, said first resource having a first index in the first set of resources; c) allocating a second resource of the second set of resources to the first secondary station, said second resource having a second index in the second set of resources being equal to the first index plus an offset based at least partly on other information known to the primary and first secondary station.

Abstract: In a radio communication system having a primary station and a plurality of secondary stations, the power of uplink and downlink channels between the primary station and a secondary station is controlled in a closed loop manner by each station transmitting power control commands to the other station. In response to these commands the receiving station adjusts its output power in steps. By combining a plurality of received power control commands before adjusting its output power the receiving station may emulate the ability to use a smaller power control step size than its minimum, thereby improving performance under certain channel conditions. In one embodiment when the required power control step size is less than the minimum step size of a particular station, that station processes a group of power control commands to determine whether to adjust its output power by its minimum step size. In an alternative embodiment the power control step size is fixed when the combining algorithm is used.

Abstract: In a radio communication system having a primary station and a plurality of secondary stations, the power of uplink and downlink channels between the primary station and a secondary station is controlled in a closed loop manner by each station transmitting power control commands to the other station. In response to these commands the receiving station adjusts its output power in steps. By combining a plurality of received power control commands before adjusting its output power the receiving station may emulate the ability to use a smaller power control step size than its minimum, thereby improving performance under certain channel conditions. In one embodiment when the required power control step size is less than the minimum step size of a particular station, that station processes a group of power control commands to determine whether to adjust its output power by its minimum step size. In an alternative embodiment the power control step size is fixed when the combining algorithm is used.

Abstract: A radio communication system comprises a secondary station having a communication channel with a primary station for the transmission of data packets from the primary station to the secondary station. In response to receipt of a data packet, the secondary station transmits a combined acknowledgement and quality parameter signal (402) to the primary station. The signal (402) indicates whether the data packet was received correctly and the value of the quality parameter enables the primary station to select transmission parameters for further data transmissions. A range of formats for the combined signal are possible. In one embodiment the quality parameter is a site selection signal indicating a preferred subset of primary stations for subsequent data transmissions. In another embodiment the quality parameter relates to the quality of the radio link and enables the primary station to select suitable modulation and coding schemes and/or transmit power levels.

Abstract: A communication device (1) for communicating in a multiple channel communication system comprises means (9) for calculating an effective noise level of one of the channels of the system by applying an expectation operator to an estimated noise level affecting the channel based on time varying characteristics of the estimated noise level. The calculation of the effective noise level may also be based on an estimated path loss. The calculation of the effective noise level may also be based on an initial power level allocated to the respective channel. The effective noise level calculated for each channel may be employed in calculating power levels to be allocated to the respective channels.

Abstract: A radio communication system comprises a communication channel for the transmission of data packets from a primary station (100) to a secondary station (110). In response to receipt of a data packet, the secondary station transmits an acknowledgement signal to the primary station indicating the status of the received data packet. The signal is selected from a set of at least two available signal types (for example positive and negative acknowledgements, ACK and NACK), and the power at which it is transmitted depends on the type of the signal. In one embodiment NACKs are transmitted at a higher power than ACKs, thereby reducing the chance of the primary station misinterpreting a NACK as an ACK. In another embodiment a REVERT signal is used to request retransmission of a previous packet. The REVERT signal may be identical to the NACK signal but transmitted at a higher power.

Abstract: A method of operating a communications system which comprises a communication station (UE1) and a further station (BS), the stations having means (26, 10) whereby they can communicate with each other, and the communication station having buffer memory means (BUF1 to BUFn) for storing data units in at least one queue. One of the stations (UE1, BS) has means (36) for estimating the transmission delay of at least one of the data units in the at least one queue, and means (30) responsive to the estimated transmission delay exceeding a threshold value for requesting permission from the further station (BS) to enable the communication station (UE1) to transmit at least one data unit to the further station (BS). The further station (i.e. the base station) will either “grant” the permission (in the form of an acceptance of using a certain rate, to transmit to a certain power level, or to transmit for a certain period of time).

Abstract: A method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station transmits a preamble (102) to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel (502) including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This method ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message (104) to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimising interference generated by the transmission.

Abstract: A method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station-transmits a preamble to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This method ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimizing interference generated by the transmission.

Abstract: A method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station transmits a preamble to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This method ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimizing interference generated by the transmission.