Method for transmitting multiple-protocol packetized data

• US 5,987,022 A
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crowley, Michael J., Crisler, Kenneth J., Comroe, Richard A., Geiger, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US08/777,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 370/477, 370/470, 370/471, 370/392, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/465, 370/417, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 370/428, 370/522, 375/240, 371/32, 371/33
• US Class Current: 370/349
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

A data communication system employs a method (400) for transmitting packetized data (100) using a combination of well known transmission techniques, such as TCP/IP and a novel compression process. A message type identifier (300) for the packet to be transmitted is first identified, which identifier comprises a packet type identifier (113) and a protocol identifier (114). The packet type identifier (113) distinguishes between control information and user information in the data packet. The packet is then selectively encoded (407, 411) using either a first or a second header compression technique, depending on the packet type identifier (113) and the protocol identifier (114). In this manner, an improved packet transmission scheme is envisaged, which gives a reliable solution for data transmission in a noisy RF environment and/or a bandwidth-limited environment. The method (400) for transmitting packetized data (100) further anticipates a third header compression technique (417) for use when the packet to be transmitted includes a UDP message.

Claims

1. In a wireless data communication system, a method for transmitting packetized data comprising the steps of:

for a packet to be transmitted that comprises control information and user information, identifying a message type identifier that comprises a packet type identifier and a protocol identifier, wherein the packet type identifier distinguishes between said control information and said user information; and

selectively encoding the packet to be transmitted by applying one of a header compression techniques, wherein at least one of said plurality of header compression techniques further comprises the steps of;

removing a predetermined portion of the packet to produce a removed portion and a remaining portion; and

compressing the remaining portion of the packet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information comprises a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) acknowledgment header.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of header compression techniques comprises the step of differential encoding the user information using a Van Jacobson-based compression technique.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user information comprises an information signal other than a TCP/IP acknowledgment header.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user information comprises a UDP datagram.

6. In a wireless data communication system, a method for transmitting TCP/IP data comprising the steps of:

for a packet to be transmitted, determining whether the packet to be transmitted includes a TCP/IP acknowledgment header; and

if the packet to be transmitted includes a TCP/IP acknowledgment header,

encoding the TCP/IP acknowledgment header by

removing a predetermined portion of the TCP/IP acknowledgment header; and

compressing a remaining portion of the TCP/IP acknowledgment header.

7. In a wireless data communication system, a method for transmitting TCP/IP and UDP datagrams comprising the steps of:

identifying a first header compression technique corresponding to a Van Jacobson compression technique;

identifying a second header compression technique that is different from the first header compression technique;

identifying a third header compression technique that is different from the first and second header compression techniques;

for a packet to be transmitted, determining whether the packet to be transmitted includes one of a compressible UDP message and TCP/IP acknowledgment header;

if the packet to be transmitted includes a compressible UDP message, encoding the packet to be transmitted by applying the third header compression technique,

if the packet to be transmitted includes a TCP/IP acknowledgment header, encoding the packet by applying the first header compression technique when less than a set of predetermined criteria are met, and encoding the packet by applying the second header compression technique when the set of predetermined criteria are met, the second header compression technique further comprising the steps of;

removing a predetermined portion of the TCP/IP acknowledgment header; and

compressing a remaining portion of the TCP/IP acknowledgment header.