Radio link protocol with reduced signaling overhead

• US 20020018472A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rinne, Mikko, Virtanen, Terhi
• Application Number:
  US09/824,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/394
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols

Abstract

A signaling method for a link protocol used for transmitting a data unit in a telecommunication system and a network element using the signaling method are described, wherein a predetermined number of a sequence number field provided in a protocol data unit is used for signaling a control function of the link protocol, such as a protocol reset function. Thereby, a separate control PDU-type is no longer required for signaling the respective control function, such that transmission overhead can be reduced.

Claims

1. A signaling method for a link protocol used for transmitting a data unit in a telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:

a) encapsulating said data unit in a protocol data unit having a field for a sequence number of said data unit; and

b) using a predetermined sequence number for signaling a control function of said link protocol.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said control function is a protocol reset function.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said protocol data unit is an RLC protocol data unit of a UMTS system.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined sequence number is the number “

0”

.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a sequence numbering of said protocol data unit is continued with the number “

1”

after reaching a maximum number.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said predetermined sequence number is one of the numbers having the highest values addressable in said sequence number field.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a sequence numbering of said protocol data unit is continued with the number “

0”

after reaching a maximum number defined to be less than said predetermined sequence number.

8. A communication element using a link protocol for transmitting a data unit in a telecommunication system,

wherein a control function for controlling said communication element is signaled by a signaling method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A communication element according to claim 8, wherein said communication element is a base station or a radio network controller.

10. A communication element according to claim 8, wherein said communication element is a mobile station.

11. A transmitter for transmitting a data unit in a telecommunication system, wherein the transmitted data unit is encapsulated in a protocol data unit having a field for a sequence number, comprising:

a) signaling transmitting means (1) for signaling a control function; and

b) sequence numbering means (2), responsive to said signaling transmitting means (1), for indicating said control function using said sequence number field.

12. A receiver for receiving a data unit in a telecommunication system, wherein the received data unit is encapsulated in a protocol data unit having a field for a sequence number, comprising:

a) sequence number reading means (11) for reading a sequence number in said sequence number field; and

b) signaling receiving means (12), responsive to the sequence number reading means, for interpreting a predetermined sequence number as a request for a control function.