Systems and methods for scheduling asynchronous tasks to residual channel space

Claim 1

A method for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: first allocating, in a communication device, portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; second allocating, in said communication device, a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after said first allocating, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; wherein said second allocating includes determining two or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and allocating said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks to said combination which has the least collective channel capacity capable of servicing said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks.

Claim 2

A method for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: first allocating, in a communication device, portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; second allocating, in said communication device, a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after said first allocating, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; wherein said second allocating includes determining two or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and allocating said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks to said combination which has the least collective channel capacity capable of servicing said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks.

Claim 8

A method for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: first allocating, in a communication device, portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; second allocating, in said communication device, a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after said first allocating, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, said second allocating step including determining one or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to at least a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks, and further comprising determining if said combination of said plurality of residual channel space portions contains overlapping time chips in different time frames.

Claim 9

A method for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: first allocating, in a communication device, portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; second allocating, in said communication device, a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after said first allocating, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, said second allocating step including determining one or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to at least a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks, and further comprising determining if said combination of said plurality of residual channel space portions contains overlapping time chips in different time frames.

Claim 11

A system for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: at least one processing element configured to (a) allocate portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, and (b) allocate a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after allocating portions of said plurality of time frames to said plurality of synchronous type data service tasks, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; at least one transceiver device coupled to the at least one processing element and configured to transmit data associated with said synchronous type data service tasks and said asynchronous type data service tasks, wherein said allocating of said plurality of residual channel space portions comprises determining two or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and allocating said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks to said combination which has the least collective channel capacity capable of servicing said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks.

Claim 12

A system for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: at least one processing element configured to (a) allocate portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, and (b) allocate a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after allocating portions of said plurality of time frames to said plurality of synchronous type data service tasks, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; at least one transceiver device coupled to the at least one processing element and configured to transmit data associated with said synchronous type data service tasks and said asynchronous type data service tasks, wherein said allocating of said plurality of residual channel space portions comprises determining two or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and allocating said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks to said combination which has the least collective channel capacity capable of servicing said first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks.

Claim 18

A system for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: at least one processing element configured to (a) allocate portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, and (b) allocate a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after allocating portions of said plurality of time frames to said plurality of synchronous type data service tasks, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; at least one transceiver device coupled to the at least one processing element and configured to transmit data associated with said synchronous type data service tasks and said asynchronous type data service tasks, wherein said at least one processing element is further configured to determine one or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to at least a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and for determining if said combination of said plurality of residual channel space portions contains overlapping time chips in different time frames.

Claim 19

A system for allocating performance of a set of data service tasks of a defined duration or data volume among a plurality of time frames respectively defined in a plurality of separate communication channels, each of said separate communication channels comprising a different frequency band, where each of said time frames is of a predetermined duration and is subdivided into a predetermined number of time chips, comprising: at least one processing element configured to (a) allocate portions of said plurality of time frames to a plurality of synchronous type data service tasks which must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel, and (b) allocate a plurality of residual channel space portions of said plurality of time frames remaining after allocating portions of said plurality of time frames to said plurality of synchronous type data service tasks, to a plurality of asynchronous type data service tasks which do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single communication channel; at least one transceiver device coupled to the at least one processing element and configured to transmit data associated with said synchronous type data service tasks and said asynchronous type data service tasks, wherein said at least one processing element is further configured to determine one or more combinations of said plurality of residual channel space portions which are of sufficient duration for being allocated to at least a first one of said asynchronous type data service tasks and for determining if said combination of said plurality of residual channel space portions contains overlapping time chips in different time frames.