Integrated self-optimizing multi-parameter and multi-variable point to multipoint communication system

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for adaptive point to multipoint wireless communication. The wireless physical layer and the wireless media-access-control (MAC) layer collectively include a set of parameters, which are adaptively modified by a base station controller for communication with a plurality of customer premises equipment. The base station controller adjusts communication with each customer premises equipment individually and adaptively in response to changes in characteristics of communication, including physical characteristics, amount of communication traffic, and nature of application for the communication traffic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transmitting data in a point to multipoint wireless network including a base station and one or more mobile wireless customer devices, comprising:
 providing at the base station a plurality of parameter values for wireless communication with a mobile wireless customer device;   establishing a wireless communication link between the base station and the mobile wireless customer device;   exchanging upstream and downstream data between the base station and the mobile wireless customer device using an initial set of upstream parameter values and an initial set of downstream parameter values associated with the mobile wireless customer device;   at the base station, determining a current set of downstream parameter values and a current set of upstream parameter values based on the current characteristics of the wireless communication link;   transmitting downstream data from the base station to the mobile wireless customer device using the current set of downstream parameter values; and   transmitting to the mobile wireless customer device the current set of upstream parameter values and receiving upstream data from the mobile wireless customer device transmitted using the current set of upstream parameter values;   wherein the current set of downstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values associated with the mobile wireless customer device are adjusted independently of each other.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the current set of downstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values include current values for one or more physical parameters. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more physical parameters include symbol transmission rate. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more downstream physical parameters include a number of payload bits assigned per symbol. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more downstream physical parameters include one or more of a number of error detection and correction bits assigned per symbol. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the current set of downstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values include current values for one or more MAC parameters. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the one or more MAC parameters include a number of payload data bytes assigned per message 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the one or more MAC parameters include a frequency of acknowledgement messages. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the one or more MAC parameters include a number of retransmission attempts. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the one or more MAC parameters include an allocation of the downstream transmission resources. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein, when the base station includes two or more antennas, the one or more MAC parameters include an antenna selection parameter. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the antenna selection parameter determines which antenna at the base station is used for downstream transmission and which antenna at the base station is used for upstream reception. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the antenna selection parameter determines transmitting simultaneously a plurality of portions of a communication signal using at least two of the two or more antennas of the base station. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the current set of upstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values are determined further based on the type of service. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the type of service is a voice service. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the type of service is a file transfer service. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication link includes more than one frequency channel. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the one or more downstream physical parameters include a number of frequency channels to be used for downstream transmission. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the one or more upstream physical parameters include a number frequency channels to be used for upstream transmission. 
     
     
         20 . A point to multipoint wireless network, comprising:
 a base station adapted to
 establish a wireless communication link to a mobile wireless customer device of a plurality of mobile wireless customer devices served by the base station, 
 exchange upstream and downstream traffic with the mobile wireless customer device using a respective initial set of upstream parameter values and an initial downstream set of parameter values associated with the mobile wireless customer device, 
 determine a current set of downstream parameter values and a current set of upstream parameter values based on the current characteristics of the wireless communication link, wherein the current set of downstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values associated with the mobile wireless customer device are adjusted independently of each other, 
 transmit the downstream traffic to the mobile wireless customer device using the current set of downstream parameter values; and 
   the mobile wireless customer device being adapted to
 receive the current set of upstream parameter values from the base station, and 
 transmit upstream data to the base station using the current set of upstream parameter values. 
   
     
     
         21 . A wireless network as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the current set of downstream parameter values and the current set of upstream parameter values include current values for one or more physical parameters. 
     
     
         22 . A wireless network as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the current set of upstream parameter values for subsequent uplink transmissions is determined further based on past sets of current values for one or more physical parameters.