SCALABLE HEADER EXTENSION

• US 20100226315A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chakroborty, Kaushik, Soliman, Samir S., Rajamani, Krishnan, Das, Soumya, Dural, Ozgur
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0088 in control part
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• 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 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 using signalling between network elements

Abstract

Systems and methods for extending header fields are disclosed. The header field may be extended without changing the current size of the header. Reserve bits may be used to indicate the use of an extended header and the extended header may be store in a variety of locations within the frame, including the frame payload or pad bits.

Claims

1. A communication device for transmitting at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the at least a first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the communication device comprising:

a memory configured to store a first extension header;

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to determine if at least one bit is available in the first extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to a plurality of bits occupying the header field; and

a message formatter in communication with at least one of the processor and the memory, the message formatter configured to;

indicate in the header field the presence of the first extension header, and

insert at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a second extension header and the processor is further configured to determine if at least one bit is available in the second extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to the plurality of bits occupying the header field, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

3. The communication device of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the second extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the message formatter comprises at least one of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable logic device, discrete gate logic, transistor logic, and discrete hardware components.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the message formatter is further configured to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header.

12. The communication device of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the first extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

13. A communication device for transmitting at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the at least a first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the communication device comprising:

means for storing a first extension header;

means for determining if at least one bit is available in the first extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to a plurality of bits occupying the header field, and wherein the determining means is in communication with the storing means; and

means for indicating in the header field the presence of the first extension header and inserting at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet, wherein the indicating and inserting means is in communication with the storing means or the determining means.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the means for storing is further configured to store a second extension header and the means for determining is further configured to determine if at least one bit is available in the second extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to the plurality of bits occupying the header field, and wherein the means for indicating is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

15. The communication device of claim 14, further comprising means for transmitting the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the second extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

16. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the means for determining is further configured to determine at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field.

17. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the means for indicating comprises at least one of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable logic device, discrete gate logic, transistor logic, and discrete hardware components.

18. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the means for indicating is further configured to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the means for indicating is further configured to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

20. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field.

21. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits.

22. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

23. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the means for indicating is further configured to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header.

24. The communication device of claim 14, further comprising means for transmitting the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the first extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

25. A method of communicating at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the at least a first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the method comprising:

storing a first extension header;

determining if at least one bit is available in the first extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to a plurality of bits occupying the header field; and

indicating in the header field of the first packet the presence of the first extension header and inserting at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing a second extension header and determining if at least one bit is available in the second extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to the plurality of bits occupying the header field, and wherein the means for indicating is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the second extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising inserting the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising modifying a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising inserting the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the first extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

36. A computer readable product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to determine, at least in part, if at least one bit is available in the first extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to a plurality of bits occupying the header field; and

code for causing a computer to indicate in the header field of the first packet the presence of the first extension header and insert at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

37. The computer readable product of claim 36, further comprising code for causing a computer to store a second extension header and determining if at least one bit is available in the second extension header for transmission, wherein the at least one bit is additional to the plurality of bits occupying the header field, and wherein the means for indicating is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet.

38. The computer readable product of claim 37, further comprising code for causing a computer to transmit the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the second extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.

39. The computer readable product of claim 36, further comprising code for causing a computer to determine at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field.

40. The computer readable product of claim 36, further comprising code for causing a computer to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet.

41. The computer readable product of claim 36, further comprising code for causing a computer to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

42. The computer readable product of claim 36, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field.

43. The computer readable product of claim 36, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits.

44. The computer readable product of claim 36, wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header.

45. The computer readable product of claim 36, further comprising code for causing a computer to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header.

46. The computer readable product of claim 37, further comprising code for causing a computer to transmit the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the first extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet.