Method and apparatus for tracking data packets in a packet data communication system
First Claim
1. A method for tracking data packets in a packet data communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting, by a first communication device, a data packet to a second communication device;
increasing, by the first communication device responsive to the step of transmitting, a transmit tracking number, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted;
receiving, by the second communication device, the data packet transmitted by the first communication device;
transmitting, by the second communication device, an acknowledgment data packet to the first communication device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received;
receiving, by the first communication device, the acknowledgment data packet;
comparing, by the first communication device, the receive tracking number and the transmit tracking number; and
when the receive tracking number is greater than the transmit tracking number, determining that a communication error occurred.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A packet data communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for tracking data packets in the packet data communication system. A sending communication device (e.g., 101) transmits a data packet (130) to a receiving communication device (e.g., 105), wherein the data packet includes a respective packet sequence number (131). Responsive to the transmission, the sending device increases a transmit tracking number (V(S)) that is used to indicate the packet sequence number of the data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted. Upon receiving the data packet, the receiving device transmits an acknowledgment data packet (140) to the sending device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number (139). The receive tracking number indicates the packet sequence number of the data packet that the receiving device expects to receive next. Upon receiving the acknowledgment data packet, the sending device determines whether a communication error occurred based on the receive tracking number and the transmit tracking number.
102 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for tracking data packets in a packet data communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, by a first communication device, a data packet to a second communication device; increasing, by the first communication device responsive to the step of transmitting, a transmit tracking number, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted; receiving, by the second communication device, the data packet transmitted by the first communication device; transmitting, by the second communication device, an acknowledgment data packet to the first communication device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received; receiving, by the first communication device, the acknowledgment data packet; comparing, by the first communication device, the receive tracking number and the transmit tracking number; and when the receive tracking number is greater than the transmit tracking number, determining that a communication error occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a first communication device to track data packets transmitted to a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a data packet to the second communication device; increasing, responsive to the step of transmitting, a transmit tracking number, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted; receiving an acknowledgment data packet from the second communication device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received by the second communication device; comparing, by the first communication device, the receive tracking number and the transmit tracking number; and when the receive tracking number is greater than the transmit tracking number, determining that a communication error occurred. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for a first communication device to track data packets received from a second communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a data packet transmitted by the second communication device; generating an acknowledgment data packet, wherein the acknowledgment data packet comprises at least one data block; inputting a predetermined value into a portion of the at least one data block reserved for a receive tracking number, wherein the receive tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received; determining a data integrity indicator for the at least one data block; inputting the data integrity indicator into a portion of the at least one data block reserved for the data integrity indicator; determining the receive tracking number; replacing the predetermined value with the receive tracking number; and transmitting the acknowledgment data packet to the second communication device, such that the acknowledgment data packet includes the receive tracking number and the data integrity indicator. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A communication device in a packet data communication system, the communication device comprising:
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a transmitter that transmits a data packet to a target communication device; a receiver that receives an acknowledgment data packet indicating receipt of the data packet from the target communication device, the acknowledgment data packet including a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received by the target communication device; and a computer readable memory device, coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, that has stored therein a computer program that, when executed, performs the following functions; increases a transmit tracking number upon transmission of the data packet, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted by the communication device; and upon reception of the acknowledgment data packet, compares the receive tracking number to the transmit tracking number and when the receive tracking number is greater than the transmit tracking number, determines that a communication error occurred. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. In a packet data communication system that includes a wireless communication unit and a data controller operably coupled to a base station, a method for the data controller to track data packets transmitted to the wireless communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing, by the data controller, a data packet to the base station; receiving, by the data controller, a confirmation message from the base station indicating that the data packet has been transmitted; updating, by the data controller, responsive to the confirmation message, a transmit tracking number, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted; receiving, by the data controller via the base station, an acknowledgment data packet from the wireless communication unit, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received by the wireless communication unit; and when the receive tracking number is later in sequence than the transmit tracking number, determining, by the data controller, that a communication error occurred.
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Specification