Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving information about forward channel status in a multi-carrier mobile communication system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving forward channel status information in a multi-carrier mobile communication system. An MS transmits to a BS forward channel status information representing an average C/I of forward signals with respect to a plurality of carriers, the maximum of the forward signal C/Is, or each of the forward signal C/is. The forward channel status information is absolute C/I information representing a current C/I, or relative C/I information representing a difference of the current C/I from a previous C/I.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by a multi-carrier;    calculating an average of the strength measurements;    generating forward channel status information representing the calculated average strength; and    transmitting the forward channel status information to the BS.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the average comprises the steps of: 
 compensating the strength measurements for differences among transmission powers of the carriers; and    calculating an average of the compensated strengths.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information comprises the step of: 
 generating an absolute information representing the calculated average strength and transmitting the absolute information in a selected transmission period.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information further comprises the step of: 
 generating a relative information representing a difference from a previously calculated average strength and transmitting the relative information in a remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the absolute information is transmitted if a solution to  
       (T−N−Mobile_Parameter)mod period is 0;  wherein T is system time represented in the number of slots, period is an absolute information transmission period, N is a time point when an absolute information is transmitted in the transmission period, Mobile_Parameter is a MS-specific value for distributing absolute information transmissions from a plurality of MSs, and mod represents modulo operation.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of encoding the forward channel status information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the forward channel status information.  
     
     
         7 . A method of receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) to a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving forward channel status information representing an average of signal strengths measured with respect to a multi-carrier; and    obtaining the average signal strength from the forward channel status information in order to control forward packet data transmission by the multi-carrier.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of obtaining the average signal strength comprises the steps of: 
 replacing a stored previous average signal strength with the average signal strength if the forward channel status information is absolute information representing the average signal strength; and    updating the previous average signal strength with the average signal strength if the forward channel status information is relative information representing a difference from the previous average signal strength in the average signal strength.    
     
     
         9 . A transmitter for transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a plurality of measurers for measuring the strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by a multi-carrier;    an average calculator for calculating the average of the strength measurements; and    an information generator for generating forward channel status information representing the average strength and transmitting the forward channel status    
     
     
         10 . The transmitter of  claim 9 , wherein the average calculator compensates the strength measurements for differences among the transmission power of the carriers and calculates an average of the compensated strengths.  
     
     
         11 . The transmitter of  claim 9 , wherein the information generator generates an absolute information representing the calculated average strength in a selected transmission period and generates a relative information representing a difference from a previously calculated average strength in the calculated average strength in a remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.  
     
     
         12 . The transmitter of  claim 9 , further comprising an encoder for encoding the forward channel status information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the forward channel status information.  
     
     
         13 . The transmitter of  claim 12 , wherein the encoder encodes the absolute information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the absolute information in the selected transmission period, and encodes the relative information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the relative information in the remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.  
     
     
         14 . A receiver for receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) in a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a decoder for decoding a received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of forward channel status information and outputting the forward channel status information representing an average of signal strengths measured with respect to multi-carriers; and    a memory for storing the average signal strength obtained from the forward channel status information.    
     
     
         15 . The receiver of  claim 14 , wherein the decoder decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of absolute information if the forward channel status information is the absolute information, and decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of relative information if the forward channel status information is the relative information representing a difference from a previous average signal strength in the average strength.  
     
     
         16 . A method of transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring the strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by a multi-carrier;    comparing the signal strength measurements and selecting a maximum of the signal strength measurements;    generating forward channel status information representing the selected maximum signal strength and carrier selection information indicating a best carrier having the maximum signal strength; and    transmitting the forward channel status information and the carrier selection information to the BS.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of selecting the maximum signal strength comprises the steps of: 
 compensating the strength measurements for differences among transmission powers of the carriers;    comparing the compensated signal strength measurements; and    selecting a maximum of the compensated signal strength measurements.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information comprises the step of: 
 generating an absolute information representing the maximum signal strength and transmitting the absolute information in a selected transmission period    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information comprises the step of: generating a relative information representing a difference from a previously maximum signal strength and transmitting the relative information in a remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the absolute information is transmitted if a solution to  
       (T−N−Mobile_Parameter)mod period is 0;  wherein T is system time represented in the number of slots, period is an absolute information transmission period, N is a time point when an absolute information is transmitted in the transmission period, Mobile_Parameter is a MS-specific value for distributing absolute information transmissions from a plurality of MSs, and mod represents modulo operation.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of encoding the forward channel status information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the forward channel status information and the carrier selection information.  
     
     
         22 . A method of receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) in a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving forward channel status information representing a maximum of signal strengths measured with respect to multi-carrier, and carrier selection information indicating a best carrier having the selected maximum signal strength; and    obtaining the maximum signal strength from the forward channel status information and the carrier selection information in order to control forward packet data transmission by a multi-carrier.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of selecting the maximum signal strength comprises the steps of: 
 replacing a stored previous maximum signal strength with the maximum signal strength if the forward channel status information is absolute information representing the maximum signal strength; and    updating the previous maximum signal strength with the maximum signal strength if the forward channel status information is relative information representing a difference from the previous maximum signal strength in the maximum signal strength.    
     
     
         24 . A transmitter for transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a plurality of measurers for measuring the strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by multi-carrier;    a selector for comparing the signal strength measurements and selecting a maximum of the signal strength measurements;    an information generator for generating forward channel status information representing the selected maximum signal strength and carrier selection information indicating a best carrier having the maximum signal strength and transmitting the forward channel status information.    
     
     
         25 . The transmitter of  claim 24 , wherein the selector compensates the strength measurements for differences among transmission powers of the carriers, compares the compensated signal strength measurements, and selects a maximum of the compensated signal strength measurements.  
     
     
         26 . The transmitter of  claim 24 , wherein the information generator generates an absolute value symbol representing the maximum signal strength in a selected transmission period and generates a relative value representing a difference from a previously maximum signal strength in a remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.  
     
     
         27 . The transmitter of  claim 26 , further comprising an encoder for encoding the absolute information and the carrier selection information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the absolute information and the carrier selection information in the selected transmission period, and encodes the relative information and the carrier selection information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the relative information and the carrier selection information in the remaining transmission period.  
     
     
         28 . A receiver for receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) in a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a decoder for decoding a received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of forward channel status information and carrier selection information, and outputting the forward channel status information representing a maximum of signal strengths measured with respect to multi-carrier and the carrier selection information representing a best carrier having the maximum signal strength; and    a memory for storing the maximum signal strength obtained from the forward channel status information.    
     
     
         29 . The receiver of  claim 28 , wherein the decoder decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to the bit number of absolute information and the carrier selection information if the forward channel status information is the absolute information, and decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to the bit number of relative information and the carrier selection information if the forward channel status information is the relative information representing a difference from a previous maximum signal strength in the maximum signal strength.  
     
     
         30 . A method of transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 measuring the strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by a multi-carrier;    generating forward channel status information representing each of the signal strength measurements; and    transmitting the forward channel status information to the BS.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information comprises the step of: 
 generating an absolute information of selected carrier and relative information of other carriers representing a difference from previously calculated signal strengths respectively and transmitting the absolute information and relative information in a selected transmission period.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the steps of generating and transmitting the forward channel status information comprises the step of: 
 generating a relative information representing a difference from previously calculated signal strengths of multi-carrier respectively and transmitting the relative information in a remaining period other than in a selected transmission period.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the absolute information for the carriers is transmitted at an interval determined by  
       
         
           
             
               tx_interval 
               ≤ 
               
                 
                   tx_period 
                   - 
                   1 
                 
                 
                   Num_Carrier 
                   - 
                   1 
                 
               
             
           
           
           
               
           
         
         where tx_interval represents an interval between transmissions of the absolute information of the carriers, tx_period is a transmission period of the absolute information of each of the carriers, and Num_Carrier is a number of the carriers.  
       
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the absolute information is transmitted if a solution to  
       (T−N−Mobile_Parameter−(carrier_id−1)×tx_period)mod tx_period is 0;  where T is system time represented in a number of slots, tx_period is a transmission period of the absolute information of each of the carriers, N is a time point when the absolute information is transmitted in the transmission period, Mobile_Parameter is a MS-specific value, carrier_id is a carrier identifier, and tx_interval is a transmission interval between the absolute information of the carriers.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising step of encoding the forward channel status information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the forward channel status information.  
     
     
         36 . A method of receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) in a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving forward channel status information representing a signal strengths measured with respect to a multi-carrier; and    obtaining the signal strengths of the carriers from the forward channel status information in order to control forward packet data transmission by the multi-carrier.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of obtaining the signal strength comprises the steps of: 
 replacing a stored previous signal strength with a signal strength of a carrier if the forward channel status information for the carrier is absolute information representing the signal strength of the carrier; and    updating the previous signal strength with the signal strength of the carrier if the forward channel status information is relative information representing a difference from the previous signal strength in the signal strength of the carrier.    
     
     
         38 . A transmitter for transmitting forward channel status information to a base station (BS) from a mobile station (MS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a plurality of measurers for measuring strengths of forward channel signals received from the BS by a multi-carrier;    a plurality of information generators for generating forward channel status information representing each of the signal strengths;    a multiplexer for multiplexing the forward channel status information representing the signal strengths of the multi-carrier respectively and transmitting the forward channel status information    
     
     
         39 . The transmitter of  claim 38 , wherein each of the information generators generates an absolute information of selected carrier and relative information of other carriers representing a difference from previously calculated signal strengths respectively in a selected transmission period and generates a relative information representing a difference from previously calculated signal strengths of the carriers respectively in a remaining period other than in a selected transmission period.  
     
     
         40 . The transmitter of  claim 38 , further comprising an encoder for encoding the forward channel status information at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the forward channel status information.  
     
     
         41 . The transmitter of  claim 40 , wherein the encoder encodes the absolute information of the selected carrier and the relative information of the other carriers at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the absolute information and the relative information in the selected transmission period, and encodes the relative information of the carriers at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of the relative information respectively in the remaining transmission period other than the selected transmission period.  
     
     
         42 . A receiver for receiving forward channel status information from a mobile station (MS) in a base station (BS) in a multi-carrier mobile communication system, comprising: 
 a decoder for decoding a received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of forward channel status information representing signal strengths of a multi-carrier, and outputting the forward channel status information; and    a memory for storing a signal strengths obtained from the forward channel status information.    
     
     
         43 . The receiver of  claim 42 , wherein the decoder decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of absolute information and relative information if the forward channel status information includes the absolute information of a selected carrier and the relative information of the other carriers, the relative information representing difference from a previous signal strength of the other carriers in the signal strengths of the each other carriers, and decodes the received signal at a coding rate corresponding to a bit number of relative information of the each carriers if the forward channel status information includes the relative information.