Method for multiplexing two data flows on a radio communication channel and corresponding transmitter

• US 20020141454A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Muniere, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/535
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

The invention relates notably to a method for multiplexing two data flows on a radio communication channel of a radio communication network, each of the data flows comprising data packets to be transmitted on the radio communication channel, data packets belonging to a first data flow, herein called high priority data flow, having higher transmission priority than data packets belonging to a second data flow, herein called low priority data flow.

According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of transmitting at least one available data packet belonging to the low priority data flow if the number of consecutive data packets belonging to the high priority data flow transmitted since the transmission of the latest data packet belonging to the low priority data flow has reached a predefined number of data packets.

Claims

1. / Method for multiplexing at least two data flows on a radio communication channel of a radio communication network, each of said data flows comprising data packets to be transmitted on said radio communication channel, data packets belonging to a first of said data flows, herein called high priority data flow, having higher transmission priority than data packets belonging a second of said data flows, herein called low priority data flow, said method comprising the step of:

transmitting, if available, at least one data packet belonging to said low priority data flow when the number of consecutive data packets belonging to said high priority data flow transmitted since the transmission of the latest data packet belonging to said low priority data flow has reached a predefined number of data packets.

2. / Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

guarantying a minimum time interval for the transmission of available data packets belonging to said low priority data flow when the number of consecutive data packets belonging to said high priority data flow has reached a predefined number of data packets.

3. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said predefined number of data packets, respectively said minimum time interval depend on the codec used for coding said low priority data flow before transmission on said radio communication channel.

4. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said high priority data flow uses a retransmission protocol for transmitting said data packets.

5. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said retransmission protocol is the Radio Link Control Protocol as specified in TS 3GPP 44.060.

6. / Method according to claim 2, wherein said minimum time interval is at least equal to a round trip delay required for one or more data packets belonging to said high priority data flow to be acknowledged at said transmitter by said retransmission protocol.

7. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said minimum time interval and said predefined number of data packets are negotiated by said transmitter at link establishment.

8. / Method according to claim 1, wherein said high priority data flow consists in signaling messages and said low priority data flow consists in real time traffic data.

9. / Method according to claim 1, used in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network using a layer 2 protocol which can have a window size higher than one.

11. / Transmitter according to claim 8, further comprising:

a timer for guarantying a minimum time interval for the transmission of available data packets belonging to said low priority data flow when the number of consecutive data packets belonging to said high priority data flow has reached a predefined number of data packets;

means for disabling the transmission of data packets belonging to said high priority data flow when said timer is started; and

means for enabling again the transmission of data packets belonging to said high priority data flow upon expiration of said timer data packets belonging to said high priority data flow are available for transmission.

10. / Transmitter of a radio communication network comprising means for multiplexing at least two data flows on a radio communication channel, each of said data flows comprising data packets to be transmitted on said radio communication channel, data packets belonging to a first of said data flows, herein called high priority data flow, having higher priority than data packets belonging to a second of said data flows, herein called low priority data flow, wherein said means for multiplexing two data flows comprises:

means for counting the number of consecutive data packets belonging to said high priority data flow transmitted since the transmission of the latest data packet belonging to said low priority data flow;

means for enabling the transmission, if available, of at least one data packet belonging to said low priority data flow if said number of consecutive data packets belonging to said high priority data flow has reached a predefined number of data packets.