Transmission of Data Within a Communications Network

• US 20140301399A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Sarkkinen, Sinikka, Hwang, Woonhee
• Application Number:
  US14/311,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20140301399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0033 arrangements specific to the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for providing a network element 5 of a communications network with data, in particular HSDPA related data. In order to enable the transmission of user data, it is proposed that a controller 4 of the network uses a dedicated frame structure for assembling frames with said user data. The frames can then be transmitted from the controller 4 via an interface to the network element 5. In order to enable the transmission of control parameters, it is further proposed that an interface application protocol is employed which allows the controller 4 to add control parameters to control messages transmitted from the controller 4 to a network element 5 via the interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communication between a first network element and a second network element in a communication network, the method comprising:

a memory for storing data;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

determine, whether multiplexing of user data destined to a plurality of user equipment is supported;

when multiplexing of user data is supported, multiplex a set of user data from different logical channels into a transport channel message;

identify, in a header portion of the message, whether multiplexing of the user data is included in a payload portion of the message; and

transmit, from the first network element, the message to the second network element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a MAC Layer entity.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a Frame Protocol Layer entity.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein multiplexing of user data identified as a number of buffers in the header portion of the message.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the multiplexing of user data is identified as a number of user identification in the header portion of the message.

6. A method for communication between a first network element and a second network element in a communication network, the method comprising:

determining, at the first network element, whether multiplexing of user data destined to a plurality of user equipment is supported;

when multiplexing of user data is supported, multiplexing a set of user data from different logical channels into a transport channel message;

identifying, in a header portion of the message, whether multiplexing of the user data is included in a payload portion of the message; and

transmitting, from the first network element, the message to the second network element.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a MAC Layer entity.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a Frame Protocol Layer entity.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein multiplexing of user data identified as a number of buffers in the header portion of the message.

10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the multiplexing of user data is identified as a number of user identification in the header portion of the message.

11. A network element for a communication network, the method comprising:

a memory for storing data;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to;

determine, whether multiplexing of user data destined to a plurality of user equipment is supported;

when multiplexing of user data is supported, multiplex a set of user data from different logical channels into the transport channel message;

identify, in a header portion of the message, whether multiplexing of the user data is included in a payload portion of the message; and

transmit, from the first network element, the message to a second network element.

12. The network element according to claim 11 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a MAC Layer entity.

13. The network element according to claim 11 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a Frame Protocol Layer entity.

14. The network element according to claim 11 wherein multiplexing of user data identified as a number of buffers in the header portion of the message.

15. The network element according to claim 11 wherein the multiplexing of user data is identified as a number of user identification in the header portion of the message.

16. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein for execution by a processor at a first network element in communication with a second network element in a communication network, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for causing the first network element to determine whether multiplexing of user data destined to a plurality of user equipment is supported;

a second executable portion for causing the first network element to, when multiplexing of user data is supported, multiplex a set of user data from different logical channels into a transport channel message;

a third executable portion for causing the first network element to identify, in a header portion of the message, whether multiplexing of the user data is included in a payload portion of the message; and

a fourth executable portion for causing the first network element to transmit the message to the second network element.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a MAC Layer entity.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the user data is multiplexed at a Frame Protocol Layer entity.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the third executable portion identifies the multiplexing of the user data as a number of buffers in the header portion of the message.