Subnetwork dependent convergence protocol for a mobile radio network

• US 6,434,133 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hämäläinen, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/181,518
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 370/392, 370/401, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 370/470, 370/471, 370/474, 380/269, 380/270, 380/28, 455/445, 455/448, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/507, 455/509, 455/517, 455/67.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile radio network in which data is assembled into units by a first convergence protocol (SNDCP) layer prior to transmission of the data to a second; peer convergence protocol (SNDCP) layer. Data is provided to the first convergence protocol layer by one of a plurality of convergence protocol layer users (e.g. PDP entities). The method comprises assigning at least one access point identifier (NSAPI) to each user and exchanging between first and second layers one or more set-up messages (XID), each message containing a data compression/decompression algorithm identifier, a set of parameters for the identified algorithm, and a bitmap of access point identifiers, where the bitmap indicates those access point identifiers which are to make use of the identified algorithm and those which are not.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile radio network in which data is assembled into units by a first convergence protocol layer prior to transmission of the data to a second, peer convergence protocol layer, said data being provided to the first convergence protocol layer by one of a plurality of convergence protocol layer users, the method comprising:

assigning at least one access point identifier to each user; and

exchanging between said first and second layers one or more compression control message, each message containing

a data compression/decompression algorithm identifier,

a set of parameters for the identified algorithm, and

identification of at least one access point identifier which is to make use of the identified algorithm.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said units of data contain one of said access point identifiers to enable the receiving convergence protocol layer to direct the data contained in the unit to the correct user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said compression control message contains a bitmap of said access point identifiers, where the bitmap indicates those access point identifiers which are to make use of the identified algorithm and those which are not.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of said messages comprise one octet identifying the compression/decompression algorithm, at least one octet containing a bitmap of said access point identifiers, and a plurality of octets containing respective algorithm parameters.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said bitmap is contained in two octets.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method forms part of a General Packet Radio Service, and said first and second convergence protocol layers are Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) layers in a mobile station and in a network, said compression control messages are in the form of exchange identity (XID) messages and said access point identifiers are network service access point identifiers (NSAPIS).

7. A mobile radio device for use in a mobile radio network in which data is assembled into units by a first convergence protocol layer prior to transmission of the data to a second, peer convergence protocol layer, the first convergence protocol layer being in the mobile radio device and the second convergence protocol layer being in the mobile radio network, said data being provided to the first convergence protocol layer by one of a plurality of convergence protocol layer users, each user having assigned to it at least one access point identifier, wherein the mobile radio device is adapted to exchange between its first convergence protocol layer and the second convergence protocol layer of the network one or more compression control message, each message containing a data compression/decompression algorithm identifier, a set of parameters for the identified algorithm, and identification of at least one access point identifier which is to make use of the identified algorithm.

8. A serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node of a cellular radio network in which data is assembled into units by a first convergence protocol layer prior to transmission of the data to a second, peer convergence protocol layer, the first convergence protocol layer being in the cellular radio network and the second convergence protocol layer being in a mobile radio device, said data being provided to the first convergence protocol layer by one of a plurality of convergence protocol layer users, each user having assigned to it at least one access point identifier, wherein the serving GPRS support node is adapted to exchange between its first convergence protocol layer of the cellular radio network and the second convergence protocol layer of the mobile radio device one or more compression control message, each message containing a data compression/decompression algorithm identifier, a set of parameters for the identified algorithm, and identification of at least one access point identifier which is to make use of the identified algorithm.