(51) Int Cl.: H04B 7/26 ( )

Transcription

1 (19) TEPZZ_698Z76B_T (11) EP B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: Bulletin /49 (21) Application number: (22) Date of filing: (1) Int Cl.: H04B 7/26 (06.01) (86) International application number: PCT/SE03/00 (87) International publication number: WO 0/06204 ( Gazette 0/27) (4) METHOD AND SYSTEM OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OF TRAFFIC WITH DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTIC VERFAHREN UND SYSTEM ZUR FUNKKOMMUNIKATION VON VERKEHR MIT VERSCHIEDENEN EIGENSCHAFTEN PROCEDE ET SYSTEME DE RADIOCOMMUNICATION DE TRAFIC AVEC DIFFERENTES CARACTERISTIQUES (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR (43) Date of publication of application: Bulletin 06/36 (73) Proprietor: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) Stockholm (SE) (72) Inventors: LARSSON, Peter S SOLNA (SE) DAHLMAN, Erik S BROMMA (SE) (74) Representative: O Connell, David Christopher et al Haseltine Lake LLP Redcliff Quay 1 Redcliff Street Bristol BS1 6HU (GB) (6) References cited: EP-A WO-A1-03/08988 WO-A1-03/09671 US-A US-A US-A EP B1 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)

2 1 EP B1 2 Description TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to communications. More especially it relates to communications over radio links subject to fading or otherwise intermittently unreliable. Particularly it relates to high data rate communications over such links. BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0002] High-speed downlink packet access in radio communications system for communications of data over radio links in direction from a radio base station to mobile user equipment is previously known. In high-speed downlink packet access data is generally buffered as need be and transmitted to the receiver at a speed as high as possible considering recent estimates of channel quality. During periods of severely disturbed channels data rate is reduced to zero and no data is transmitted. In this sense the communication is opportunistic. [0003] Prior art example systems where opportunistic communications is incorporated, at least partially, are High Speed Downlink Packet Access (in UMTS), HSD- PA, High Data Rate (in CDMA00), HDR, Selection Diversity Forwarding, SDF, and Multiuser Diversity Forwarding, MDF. Selection Diversity Forwarding is a routing/channel access scheme for an unreliable broadcast oriented medium, selecting a preferable route of forwarding messages depending on outcome of multi-casting and e.g. forward progress, cost progress or queue status. MDF is also a routing protocol. SDF and MDF are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 02/00142 and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/ [0004] In contrast to opportunistic communications conventional radio communications utilize a set of one or more radio channels, the radio communication system adjusting transmission power to the various channels by means of transmission power control striving to achieve (at least) minimum quality requirements. Conventional radio communications have a long-term record of efficiently carrying voice traffic and real-time data traffic. Reliability of conventional data channels may be increased by, e.g., forward error control, FEC, and automatic repeat request, ARQ. [000] Examples of earlier known channel quality measures are channel signal to noise ratio, SNR, carrier to interference ratio, CIR, received power, received symbol energy, bit error rate, BER, and block error rate, BLER. [0006] U.S. Patent US discloses a multi-hop packet radio communication system utilizing opportunistic peak-mode transmissions to transmit data between originating and destination stations via one or more intermediate stations. Each station monitors the activity of other stations in the network, storing connectivity information for use in subsequent transmissions. Each station also sends out probe signals from time to time, to establish which other stations are in range. [0007] N. Souto, J. C. Silva, A. Correia, F. Cercas, A. Rodrigues: UMTS AWGN Simulation Results for Uplink, Downlink and HSDPA transmissions, 02 describes simulation results in terms of BER (bit error rate) and BLER (block error rate) of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access). Downlink rates up to 384 kbps and HSD- PA 1600 kbps and 232 kbps modes were also simulated. For downlink and HSDPA modes, interference is claimed to have no effect in the AWGN channel due to the orthogonal features of spreading codes. [0008] U.S. Patent Application US discloses a radio communication system implementing both HSDPA and conventional asynchronous communications using different logical channels for control information related to HSDPA and DPDCH (Dedicated Physical Data Channel) respectively. [0009] 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP): Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Physical layer aspects of UTRA High Speed Downlink Packet Access (Release 4), 3G TS v4.0.0, France, March 01, describes the physical layer aspects of the techniques behind the concept of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and includes performance and complexity evaluation of HSDPA. Chapter 6 discusses HSDPA mapping to physical channels. [00] None of the cited documents above discloses separating or orthogonalizing respective physical traffic channels for opportunistic communications and conventional communications. SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION [0011] If conventional communications channels and channels for opportunistic communications share the same communications resources they may interfere. Particularly, power control of conventional channels increases transmission power, e.g., when the receiver perceives poor signal to noise ratios due to signal fading. The transmission power is then controlled to vary basically contrary to the fading. This transmission power variation causes correspondingly varying interference to, among others, users of opportunistic communications. Such system generated varying interference reduces reliability of channel quality estimates important for opportunistic communications. It also implies requirements on more frequent channel estimates, loading the system, and overall reduced data rates on the opportunistic communications channels. [0012] Consequently, there is a need of reducing or eliminating interference from channels for conventional communications on channels for opportunistic communications. [0013] It is consequently an object of the present invention to achieve a radio communications system providing increased immunity to interference from conven- 2

3 3 EP B1 4 tional communications channels to opportunistic communications channels. [0014] It is also an object to achieve a system that can exploit fading dips of interfering signals for opportunistic communications. [00] Another object is to achieve a system capable of providing transmission opportunities on opportunistic communications channels for traffic that is traditionally transmitted on conventional channels e.g. voice. [0016] Finally, it is an object to increase system performance and allow for overall higher data rates. [0017] These objects are met by a method and system of channel allocation operating in various domains. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] Figure 1 depicts two radio communications cells, each comprising a base station, for both conventional and opportunistic radio communications according to the invention. Figure 2 illustrates one-dimensional domain overlap in time domain for TDM (Time Division Multiplex) according to the invention. Figure 3 shows separation of conventional communications and opportunistic communications in twodimensional time- frequency domain according to the invention. Figure 4 schematically illustrates equipment according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0019] Most radio channels are subject to CIR fluctuations. These fluctuations may be due to, e.g., signal strength variations (of desired signal) caused by channel induced fading, varying interference level due to interference power control, interfering signal strength variations caused by channel induced fading, interference variations due to (traffic related) varying number of interfering signals or adaptive antennas transmitting interfering signals (beamforming) with varying antenna radiation pattern. [00] Opportunistic communications rely heavily on scheduling and rate control, achieved by e. g. buffering and adaptive coding. Thereby, a gain from statistically multiplexing of a great number of user channels can be achieved, such that at least one user can make use of the communications resources at, at least intermittently, great performance. Consequently, for a particular user the scheduling is dependent on time and frequency variations of the communication channel allocated to the user. Due to the statistical multiplexing overall performance can be increased and high data rate communications achieved also for channels historically considered unreliable due to e.g. CIR fluctuations. [0021] If conventional communications channels and channels for opportunistic communications share the same communications resources, however, they may interfere. Particularly, power control of conventional channels increases transmission power, e.g., when the receiver perceives poor signal to noise ratios due to signal fading. The transmission power varies basically contrary to the fading. This transmission power variation causes correspondingly varying interference to among others users of opportunistic communications. Such system generated varying interference reduces reliability of channel quality estimates important for opportunistic communications. It also implies requirements on more frequent channel estimates, loading the system, and overall reduced data rates on the opportunistic communications channels. [0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention conventional and opportunistic communications are split in non-overlapping or minimally overlapping channels in one-dimensional domain, such as on a timegrid for TDM (Time Division Multiplex). [0023] According to a second embodiment, the different communications are split in two-dimensional domain, such as time-frequency for OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex). [0024] In a further embodiment the channels are separated in code domain, to be used as one-dimensional separation or combined with one or more other one- or plural-dimensional domain separations to minimize cross-characteristics interference. Example codes are LAS (Large Area Synchronized) spreading codes. The invention is applicable in general to separation in arbitrary dimensional domain, where the plural-dimensional domain includes time, frequency or code. [002] Preferably, according to the invention interference in terms of signal to interference ratio is minimized. However, most interference related quality measures, such as those mentioned on p. 2, could be applied. [0026] In an example mode of the invention, a first of at least two traffic categories of communications is transmitted with stationary or quasi-stationary transmission power level. [0027] In another example mode of the invention, the quasi-stationary transmission power level is varying slower than the lowest speed of communications variations of the traffic of the first category. [0028] In a further example mode of the invention, difference in time scale between at least two traffic categories is at least one order of magnitude. [0029] A particular problem entails from neighboring cells, where conventional communications of one cell may interfere with opportunistic communications of another cell. To minimize the risk of interference between cells where demand for conventional and opportunistic communications differ between cells, and hence some overlap will occur if all channels are occupied, different 3

4 EP B modes of the invention allocates channels such as to minimize use of common resources considering a limited number of domain dimensions. [00] Figure 1 depicts two radio communications cells «Cell 1», «Cell 2», each comprising a base station «BS 1», «BS 2», for both conventional and opportunistic radio communications according to the invention. Depending on, among other things, geographical distance and terrain between neighboring radio communications cells «Cell 1», «Cell 2» radio emissions from the respective base stations antennas may interfere with (desired) communications of the neighboring cell. [0031] Figure 2 illustrates one-dimensional domain time-overlap for TDM. In a first radio communications cell «Cell 1», three time «slots «C11», «C12», «C13» out of eight «C11», «C12», «C13», «O11», «O12», «O13», «O14», «O» are allocated for conventional communications and five time slots «O11», «O12», «O13», «O14», «O» are allocated for opportunistic communications. In a second cell «Cell 2» five time slots «C21», «C22», «C23», «C24», «C2» are allocated for conventional communications and three «O21», «O22», «O23» for opportunistic communications. As the fractional allocation of conventional and opportunistic communications is different for cells 1 and 2 and all time slots are allocated, opportunistic communications time-slots in cell 2 cannot be completely separated from conventional communications time-slots of cell 2 in a one-dimensional domain such as time-domain. The interference in this example allocation is minimized when the number of overlapping time slots of different communication in the two cells is minimized. In the figure, two time-slots of opportunistic communications «O11», «O12» of cell 1 overlap in time with two time-slots of conventional communications «C24», «C2» of cell 2. [0032] Figure 3 shows separation of conventional communications and opportunistic communications in twodimensional time-frequency domain. In a first cell «Cell 1» of a cellular radio communications system a number of time-frequency slots «12» are allocated for conventional communications and a number of slots allocated for opportunistic communications «134», «144», «2», «162». In a second radio cell «Cell 2» the allocation is somewhat different due to different demand on conventional and opportunistic communications channels, respectively. A time-frequency slot «22», for which corresponding slot in cell 1 «12» was allocated for conventional communications, is allocated for opportunistic communications and four time-frequency slots «234», «244», «22», «262», with correspondences «134», «144», «2», «162» allocated for opportunistic communications in cell 1, are allocated for conventional communications. For both slot allocations of figure 3 the timefrequency range is identical. [0033] Obviously five slots «22», «234», «244», «22», «262» of cell 2 overlap in time and frequency with «12», «134», «144», «2», «162» of cell 1. The number of overlapping time-frequency slots may be reduced to three by e. g. swapping allocations of two slots of cell 1 for which cell 2 has a different allocation. If, e.g., slot «12» were allocated for opportunistic communications and slot «134» allocated for conventional communications the allocations would be of same types for both radio cells «Cell 1», «Cell 2» for all by three time-slots «144», «2», «162», «244», «22», «262». [0034] The two-dimensional example above illustrates that interference effect may be reduced not only by minimizing number of overlapping slots, but also by careful selection of which communications should be subject to interference from neighbor-cell slots with communications of different characteristics. Also, instead of reducing number of overlapping slots, a "sufficiently small" interference could be accepted an approximate minimum when further minimization would yield no or small perceived quality improvement. As mentioned above, the criteria to minimize, for true minimum or satisfaction, could be e.g. signal to interference ratio, SIR, or any of the criteria mentioned on p. 2 such as carrier to interference ratio, CIR. [003] In one mode of the invention it is adapted for combination with various well-known means of controlling the resource allocation in a dynamic manner incorporating centralized or decentralized/distributed resource allocation. The adaptation time schedule on which the resources are allocated may be long or short term. For the short term, resource allocation can change from call to call, or even adapt to instantaneous channel conditions, whereas the long term allocation may change, on a diurnal basis, e.g. between peak hours and off-peak hours. The resource allocation can also be of static nature defined at system initiation. [0036] In a further example mode of the invention, a category of communications is transmitted with channel adaptive data rate control. [0037] Figure 4 schematically illustrates equipment «Equipment» according to the invention. A number of information sources «Source 1», «Source 2»,..., «Source n» comprising, e.g., speech or data are connected 1, 2,..., n to the equipment which may be fixed radio equipment, e.g. equipment of a radio access network, or mobile equipment, e.g. user equipment. For equipment of a radio access network, the sources may be connected through a gateway (not illustrated) or other network equipment, the radio access network equipment separating and transmitting conventional and opportunistic «Opportunistic» communications over N conventional slots/channels «Conventional» and M opportunistic slots/channels «Opportunistic», for non-negative integers N and M, as described in relation to figures 2 and 3. [0038] For mobile equipment one or more sources «Source 1», «Source 2»,..., «Source n» of figure 4 may be related to equipment integrated within, e.g., a mobile station, such as stored data or applications, or be connected to, e.g., a mobile station essentially operating as an interface for information transfer. In a preferred mode of the invention, the mobile equipment receives informa- 4

5 7 EP B1 8 tion from a network controller related to particular allocation of the traffic channels on a control channel (not illustrated). [0039] The network allocation control can be centralized, decentralized or distributed. With centralized control the network controller is responsible for channel allocation within a wide area, such as for a switching center or access point to the Internet, with a plurality of base stations «BS 1», «BS 2». In a decentralized realization local network controllers are responsible for channel allocation, that nevertheless is coordinated between neighboring areas, for which local network controllers are responsible. In a distributed system, the local controllers have limited responsibility and assist one or more central controller to achieve the final allocation. Decentralized or distributed allocation control is not restricted to radio access network controllers but can include mobile equipment. [00] The invention is not intended to be limited only to the embodiments described in detail above. Changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It covers all modifications within the scope of the following claims.. The method according to any of claims 1-3 characterized in that the conventional communications comprise circuit switched communications. 6. The method according to claim characterized in that the circuit switched communications comprise voice communications. 7. The method according to any of claims 1-3 characterized in that the conventional communications comprise communications with real-time requirements. 8. The method according to any of claims 1-6 characterized in that the communications are separated in one-dimensional domain. 9. The method according to claim 8 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is time domain.. The method according to claim 8 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is frequency domain. Claims The method according to claim 8 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is code domain. 1. A method of communicating traffic with different characteristics, wherein traffic for transmission from at least two information sources is divided into two or more categories including conventional communications and opportunistic communications which transfer with different characteristics, wherein conventional communications comprise communications in which transmission power for various channels is adjusted to achieve at least minimum quality requirements and wherein opportunistic communications use scheduling and rate control to transfer traffic; the method characterized in that the traffic for transfer by conventional communications is transmitted on physically wholly or partially separated channels to the traffic for transfer by opportunistic communications, the separation comprising timedomain separation or frequency-domain separation. 2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the different characteristics of transfer comprises different time scale of power control adjustments. 3. The method according to claim 2 characterized in that there is a difference in time scale between at least two categories that is at least one order of magnitude. 4. The method according to any of claims 1-3 characterized in that the conventional communications are transmitted with a power level that is adapted to counteract fading The method according to any of claims 1-6 characterized in that the communications are separated in two-dimensional domain. 13. The method according to claim 12 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is time-frequency domain. 14. The method according to claim 12 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is time-code domain.. The method according to claim 12 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is frequency-code domain. 16. The method according to any of claim 1-6 characterized in that the communications are separated in more than two-dimensional domain. 17. The method according to claim 16 characterized in that the more than two-dimensional domain includes time, frequency or code domain. 18. The method according to any of claims 1-17 characterized in that when applied to different cells of a cellular radio communications system, neighbouring cells transmit on channels of separation minimizing interference between the neighbouring cells and the differently characterized communications.

6 9 EP B1 19. The method according to claim 18 characterized in that the separation minimizes number of time slots, frequency slots or time-frequency slots of communications with different characteristics in the different cells.. The method according to claim 18 characterized in that the separation maximizes signal to interference ratio or carrier to interference ratio of time slots, frequency slots or time-frequency slots, if any, of communications with different characteristics in the different cells. 21. A radio communications equipment for communicating traffic with different characteristics, the traffic being divided into two or more categories including conventional communications and opportunistic communications which transfer with different characteristics, wherein conventional communications comprise communications in which transmission power for various channels is adjusted to achieve at least minimum quality requirements and wherein opportunistic communications use scheduling and rate control to transfer traffic; the equipment characterized by processing circuitry for allocating traffic transmissions that use conventional communications to physically wholly or partially separated channels to the traffic transmissions that use opportunistic communications, the separation comprising timedomain separation or frequency-domain separation. 22. The radio communications equipment according to claim 21 characterized in that the different characteristics of transfer comprises different time scale of power control adjustments The radio communications equipment according to claim 21 characterized in that the conventional communications comprise communications with real-time requirements. 28. The radio communications equipment according to any of claims characterized by the processing circuitry separating communications in one-dimensional domain. 29. The radio communications equipment according to claim 28 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is time domain.. The radio communications equipment according to claim 28 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is frequency domain. 31. The radio communications equipment according to claim 28 characterized in that the one-dimensional domain is code domain. 32. The radio communications equipment according to any of claims characterized in the processing circuitry separating communications in two-dimensional domain. 33. The radio communications equipment according to claim 32 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is time-frequency domain. 34. The radio communications equipment according to claim 32 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is time-code domain. 3. The radio communications equipment according to claim 32 characterized in that the two-dimensional domain is frequency-code domain. 23. The radio communications equipment according to claim 22 characterized in that there is a difference in time scale between at least two categories that is at least one order of magnitude. 36. The radio communications equipment according to any of claim characterized by the processing circuitry separating communications in more than two-dimensional domain. 24. The method according to any of claims characterized in that the conventional communications are transmitted with a power level that is adapted to counteract fading The radio communications equipment according to claim 21 characterized in that the more than twodimensional domain includes time, frequency or code domain. 2. The radio communications equipment according to claim 21 characterized in that the conventional communications comprise circuit switched communications. 26. The radio communications equipment according to claim 2 characterized in that the circuit switched communications comprise voice communications A cellular radio communications system comprising two or more cells and radio communications equipment according to any of claims 21-37, the system characterized by processing circuitry allocating traffic of different characteristics of different cells by which allocation interference between conventional communications and opportunistic communications of neighbouring cells is minimized. 39. The radio communications system according to claim 38 characterized by the processing circuitry minimizing number of time slots, frequency slots or 6

7 11 EP B1 12 time-frequency slots of communications with different characteristics in the different cells.. The radio communications system according to claim 38 characterized by the processing circuitry maximizing signal to interference ratio or carrier to interference ratio of time slots, frequency slots or time- frequency slots, if any, of communications with different characteristics in the different cells. 6. Verfahren nach Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die leitungsvermittelten Kommunikationen Sprachkommunikationen umfassen. 7. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen Kommunikationen mit Echtzeiterfordernissen umfassen. 8. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kommunikationen in einem eindimensionalen Bereich separiert sind. Patentansprüche 1. Verfahren zum Kommunizieren von Verkehr mit verschiedenen Eigenschaften, wobei ein Verkehr zum Senden von zumindest zwei Informationsquellen in zwei oder mehr Kategorien unterteilt wird, einschließlich herkömmlicher Kommunikationen und opportunistischer Kommunikationen, die mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften transferieren, wobei herkömmliche Kommunikationen Kommunikationen umfassen, in denen eine Transmissionsleistung für verschiedene Kanäle angepasst wird, um zumindest minimale Qualitätserfordernisse zu erreichen, und wobei opportunistische Kommunikationen eine Scheduling- und Ratensteuerung für einen Transfer von Verkehr verwenden; wobei das Verfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der Verkehr für einen Transfer durch herkömmliche Kommunikationen gesendet wird auf physikalisch vollständigen oder partiell separaten Kanälen für den Verkehr zum Transfer durch opportunistische Kommunikationen, wobei die Separation eine Zeitbereichsseparation oder eine Frequenzbereichsseparation umfasst. 2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die unterschiedlichen Transfereigenschaften unterschiedliche Zeitskalen von Leistungssteueranpassungen umfassen. 3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Differenz in einer Zeitskala zwischen zumindest zwei Kategorien gibt, die zumindest eine Größenordnung ist. 4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen mit einem Leistungspegel gesendet werden, der ausgebildet ist, um einem Fading entgegen zu wirken.. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen leitungsvermittelte Kommunikationen umfassen Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Zeitbereich ist.. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Frequenzbereich ist. 11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Code-Bereich ist. 12. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kommunikationen in einem zweidimensionalen Bereich separiert sind. 13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Zeit-Frequenz-Bereich ist. 14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Zeit-Code-Bereich ist.. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Frequenz-Code-Bereich ist. 16. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Kommunikationen in einen mehr als zweidimensionalen Bereich separiert sind. 17. Verfahren nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mehr als zweidimensionale Bereich einen Zeit-, Frequenz- oder Code-Bereich enthält. 18. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1-17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass bei Anwendung auf unterschiedliche Zellen eines zellulären Funkkommunikationssystems, Nachbarzellen auf Kanälen einer separationsminimierenden Interferenz zwischen den Nachbarzellen und den unterschiedlich gekennzeichneten Kommunikationen senden. 19. Verfahren nach Anspruch 18, dadurch gekenn- 7

8 13 EP B1 14 zeichnet, dass die Separation eine Anzahl von Zeit- Slots, Frequenz-Slots oder Zeit-Frequenz-Slots von Kommunikationen mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften in den unterschiedlichen Zellen minimiert.. Verfahren nach Anspruch 18, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Separation ein Signal-zu-Interferenz-Verhältnis oder ein Träger-zu-Interferenz- Verhältnis von Zeit-Slots, Frequenz-Slots oder Zeit- Frequenz-Slots, wenn vorhanden, von Kommunikationen mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften in den unterschiedlichen Zellen maximiert. 21. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung zum Kommunizieren eines Verkehrs mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften, wobei der Verkehr in zwei oder mehr Kategorien unterteilt ist, einschließlich herkömmlicher Kommunikationen und opportunistischer Kommunikationen, die mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften transferieren, wobei herkömmliche Kommunikationen Kommunikationen umfassen, in denen eine Sendeleistung für verschiedene Kanäle angepasst wird, um zumindest minimale Qualitätserfordernisse zu erreichen, und wobei opportunistische Kommunikationen eine Scheduling- und Ratensteuerung für einen Verkehrstransfer verwenden; wobei die Ausrüstung gekennzeichnet ist durch eine Verarbeitungsschaltung zum Zuweisen von Verkehrssendungen, die herkömmliche Kommunikationen für physikalisch vollständig oder partiell separate Kanäle für die Verkehrssendungen verwenden, die opportunistische Kommunikationen verwenden, wobei die Separation eine Zeitbereichsseparation oder eine Frequenzbereichsseparation umfasst. 22. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die unterschiedlichen Transfereigenschaften eine unterschiedliche Zeitskala von Leistungssteueranpassungen umfasst. 23. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Differenz in einer Zeitskala zwischen zumindest zwei Kategorien gibt, die zumindest eine Größenordnung ist. 24. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 21-23, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen mit einem Leistungspegel gesendet werden, das ausgebildet ist, um einem Fading entgegen zu wirken. 2. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen leitungsvermittelte Kommunikationen umfassen. 26. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die leitungsvermittelten Kommunikationen Sprachkommunikationen umfassen. 27. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die herkömmlichen Kommunikationen Kommunikationen mit Echtzeiterfordernissen umfassen. 28. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach einem der Ansprüche 21-26, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verarbeitungsschaltung Kommunikationen in einem eindimensionalen Bereich separiert. 29. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 28, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Zeitbereich ist.. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 28, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Frequenzbereich ist. 31. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 28, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der eindimensionale Bereich ein Code-Bereich ist. 32. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach einem der Ansprüche 21-26, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verarbeitungsschaltung Kommunikationen in einem zweidimensionalen Bereich separiert. 33. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 32, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Zeit-Frequenz-Bereich ist. 34. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 32, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Zeit-Code-Bereich ist. 3. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 32, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweidimensionale Bereich ein Frequenz-Code-Bereich ist. 36. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach einem der Ansprüche 21-26, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verarbeitungsschaltung Kommunikationen in mehr als einen zweidimensionalen Bereich separiert. 37. Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach Anspruch 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mehr als zweidimensionale Bereich einen Zeit-, Frequenzoder Code-Bereich enthält. 38. Zelluläres Funkkommunikationssystem mit zwei oder mehr Zellen und einer Funkkommunikationsausrüstung nach einem der Ansprüche 21-37, wobei das System gekennzeichnet ist durch eine Verar- 8

9 EP B1 16 beitungsschaltung, die einen Verkehr unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften von unterschiedlichen Zellen zuweist, wodurch eine Zuweisungsinterferenz zwischen herkömmlichen opportunistischen Kommunikationen benachbarter Zellen minimiert wird. 39. Funkkommunikationssystem nach Anspruch 38, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verarbeitungsschaltung eine Anzahl von Zeit-Slots, Frequenz- Slots oder Zeit-Frequenz-Slots von Kommunikationen mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften in den unterschiedlichen Zellen minimiert. 4. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 3 caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques sont transmises avec un niveau de puissance qui est adapté pour empêcher l évanouissement.. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 3 caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques comprennent des communications à commutation de circuits. 6. Procédé selon la revendication, caractérisé en ce que les communications à commutation de circuits comprennent des communications vocales.. Funkkommunikationssystem nach Anspruch 38, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verarbeitungsschaltung ein Signal-zu-Differenz-Verhältnis oder ein Träger-zu-Interferenz-Verhältnis von Zeit-Slots, Frequenz-Slots oder Zeit-Frequenz-Slots, wenn vorhanden, von Kommunikationen mit unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften in den unterschiedlichen Zellen maximiert. 7. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 3 caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques comprennent des communications avec des exigences en temps réel. 8. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 6 caractérisé en ce que les communications sont séparées dans un domaine unidimensionnel. Revendications 1. Procédé de communication de trafic avec différentes caractéristiques, dans lequel un trafic destiné à être transmis à partir d au moins deux sources d informations est divisé en deux ou plusieurs catégories comportant des communications classiques et des communications opportunistes qui sont transférées avec différentes caractéristiques, où des communications classiques comprennent des communications dans lesquelles une puissance de transmission pour différents canaux est ajustée pour obtenir au moins des exigences de qualité minimales et où des communications opportunistes utilisent la planification et le contrôle de débit pour transférer le trafic ; le procédé étant caractérisé en ce que le trafic destiné à être transféré par des communications classiques est transmis sur des canaux entièrement ou partiellement physiquement séparés au trafic destiné à être transféré par des communications opportunistes, la séparation comprenant une séparation dans le domaine temporel ou une séparation dans le domaine fréquentiel. 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les différentes caractéristiques de transfert comprennent différentes échelles de temps de réglages de puissance. 3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu il existe une différence de l échelle de temps entre au moins deux catégories qui est au moins un ordre de grandeur Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine temporel.. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine fréquentiel. 11. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine de code. 12. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 6 caractérisé en ce que les communications sont séparées dans un domaine bidimensionnel. 13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine temps-fréquence. 14. Procédé selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine temps-code.. Procédé selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine fréquence-code. 16. Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que les communications sont séparées dans un domaine plus que bidimensionnel. 17. Procédé selon la revendication 16, caractérisé en ce que le domaine plus que bidimensionnel comporte un domaine temporel, fréquentiel ou de code. 9

10 17 EP B Procédé selon l une des revendications 1 à 17, caractérisé en ce que lorsqu elles ont appliquées à des différentes cellules d un système de communication radio cellulaire, des cellules voisines transmettent sur des canaux de séparation minimisant le brouillage entre les cellules voisines et les communications caractérisées différemment. 19. Procédé selon la revendication 18, caractérisé en ce que la séparation minimise le nombre d intervalles de temps, d intervalles de fréquence ou d intervalles temps-fréquence de communications avec différentes caractéristiques dans différentes cellules.. Procédé selon la revendication 18, caractérisé en ce que la séparation maximise le rapport signal sur brouillage ou le rapport porteuse sur brouillage d intervalles de temps, d intervalles de fréquence ou d intervalles temps-fréquence, le cas échéant, des communications avec différentes caractéristiques dans différentes cellules. 21. Équipement de communication radio permettant de communiquer un trafic avec différentes caractéristiques, le trafic étant divisé en deux ou plusieurs catégories comportant des communications classiques et des communications opportunistes qui sont transférées avec différentes caractéristiques, où des communications classiques comprennent des communications dans lesquelles une puissance de transmission pour divers canaux est ajustée pour obtenir au moins des exigences de qualité minimales et où des communications opportunistes utilisent la planification et le contrôle de débit pour transférer un trafic ; l équipement étant caractérisé par une circuiterie de traitement permettant d attribuer des transmissions de trafic qui utilisent des communications classiques à des canaux entièrement ou partiellement physiquement séparés aux transmissions de trafic qui utilisent des communications opportunistes, la séparation comprenant une séparation dans le domaine temporel ou une séparation dans le domaine fréquentiel. 22. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 21, caractérisé en ce que les différentes caractéristiques de transfert comprennent différentes échelles de temps de réglages de puissance. 23. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 22, caractérisé en ce qu il existe une différence de l échelle de temps entre au moins deux catégories qui est au moins un ordre de grandeur. 24. Procédé selon l une des revendications 21 à 23 caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques sont transmises avec un niveau de puissance qui est adapté pour empêcher l évanouissement. 2. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 21, caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques comprennent des communications à commutation de circuits. 26. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les communications à commutation de circuits comprennent des communications vocales. 27. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 21, caractérisé en ce que les communications classiques comprennent des communications avec des exigences en temps réel. 28. Équipement de communication radio selon l une des revendications 21 à 26, caractérisé en ce que la circuiterie de traitement sépare des communications dans un domaine unidimensionnel. 29. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 28, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine temporel.. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 28, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine fréquentiel. 31. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 28, caractérisé en ce que le domaine unidimensionnel est le domaine de code. 32. Équipement de communication radio selon l une des revendications 21 à 26, caractérisé en ce que la circuiterie de traitement sépare des communications dans un domaine bidimensionnel. 33. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 32, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine temps-fréquence. 34. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 32, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine temps-code. 3. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 32, caractérisé en ce que le domaine bidimensionnel est un domaine fréquence-code. 36. Équipement de communication radio selon l une des revendications 21 à 26, caractérisé en ce que la circuiterie de traitement sépare des communications dans un domaine plus que bidimensionnel. 37. Équipement de communication radio selon la revendication 21, caractérisé en ce que le domaine plus

11 19 EP B1 que bidimensionnel comporte un domaine temporel, fréquentiel ou de code. 38. Système de communication radio cellulaire comprenant deux ou plusieurs cellules et un équipement de communication radio selon l une des revendications 21 à 37, le système étant caractérisé par une circuiterie de traitement attribuant un trafic de différentes caractéristiques de différentes cellules par lesquelles un brouillage d attribution entre des communications classiques et des communications opportunistes de cellules voisines est minimisé. 39. Système de communication radio selon la revendication 38, caractérisé en ce que la circuiterie de traitement minimise le nombre d intervalles de temps, d intervalles de fréquence ou d intervalles de temps-fréquence des communications avec différentes caractéristiques dans différentes cellules.. Système de communication radio selon la revendication 38, caractérisé en ce que la circuiterie de traitement maximise le rapport signal sur brouillage ou le rapport porteuse sur brouillage d intervalles de temps, d intervalles de fréquence ou d intervalles de temps-fréquence, le cas échéant, des communications de différentes caractéristiques dans différentes cellules

12 EP B1 12

13 EP B1 13

14 EP B1 14

15 EP B1

16 EP B1 REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard. Patent documents cited in the description US A [0003] US P [0003] US A [0006] US A [0008] Non-patent literature cited in the description N. SOUTO; J. C. SILVA ; A. CORREIA ; F. CERCAS ; A. RODRIGUES. UMTS AWGN Simulation Results for Uplink, Downlink and HSDPA transmissions [0007] 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP): Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, Physical layer aspects of UTRA High Speed Downlink Packet Access (Release 4). 3G TS v4.0.0, France [0009] 16