METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A TIMER FOR PROCESSING DATA BLOCKS

• US 20130155923A1
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seung-June Yi, So-Young Lee, Woon Young Yeo
• Original Assignee: Seung-June Yi
• Inventors: YI, Seung June, Yeo, Woon Young, Lee, So Young
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1841 Resequencing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1845 Combining techniques, e.g. code combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0096 Channel splitting in point-to-point links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 in relation to timing considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/34 ensuring sequence integrity, e.g. using sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0042 intra-user or intra-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0083 symbol-by-symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 : Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 : Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 : using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 : taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 : taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 : taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 : in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

A timer for processing data blocks is proposed for a receiver of a mobile communications system. If the timer is not running, the timer is started based a data block. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. If the timer is stopped or expires, the timer is based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity. The timer can be used to prevent a stall condition in mobile communications.

Claims

1. A method of operating a timer for processing data blocks in a receiver of a mobile communications system, the method comprising:

if a timer is not running, starting the timer based on a sequence number of a data block higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received; and

when the timer expires, starting the timer based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are implemented in a mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps are performed at a medium access control (MAC) layer in the mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the higher entity is a MAC-d sub-layer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the higher entity is a radio link control (RLC) layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are for high-speed data packet access technology.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein no additional timer is started if the timer is running.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering received data blocks that can be delivered to the higher entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the received data blocks are delivered to the higher entity in sequence.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the received data blocks are MAC-hs (Medium Access Control—

high speed) protocol data unit (PDU).

11. An apparatus to operate a timer for processing data blocks in a receiver of a mobile communications system, the apparatus comprising:

a buffer; and

a timer operated with the buffer, the timer configured to,

if the timer is not running, start the timer based on a sequence number of a data block higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received, and

when the timer expires, start the timer based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is implemented in a mobile terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the buffer and the timer is operated with a medium access control (MAC) layer in the mobile terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the higher entity is a MAC-d sub-layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the higher entity is a radio link control (RLC) layer.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the buffer and the timer are for high-speed data packet access technology.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein no additional timer is started if the timer is running.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the buffer is configured to deliver received data blocks that can be delivered to the higher entity.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the received data blocks are delivered to the higher entity in sequence.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the received data blocks are MAC-hs (Medium Access Control—

high speed) protocol data unit (PDU).