Data transmission method in GPRS

• US 6,671,287 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Huttunen, Kari, Savuoja, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Jamal A.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 370/464, 370/465, 370/466, 370/469, 370/310, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 379/59, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/458, 455/460, 455/466
• US Class Current: 370/469
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a data transmission method between a network part of a General Packet Radio Service and a subscriber terminal. In the method an RLC/MAC (Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control) protocol layer and an LLC (Logical Link Control) protocol layer employing the services of the RLC/MAC protocol layer are used as data link layers. In data transmission an LLC frame of the LLC layer is placed in an RLC data block of the RLC/MAC layer. In accordance with the invention more than two LLC frames are placed in one RLC data block. According to prior art one RLC data block may comprise two different LLC frames at the most. The method is, for example, implemented in such a manner that when the RLC data block includes an RLC header field and an RLC data field then the RLC data block includes a mechanism accurately indicating the LLC frame length in each RLC data block and information about whether another LLC frame will follow said LLC frame or not.

Claims

1. A data transmission method between a network part of a General Packet Radio Service and a subscriber terminal comprising

an RLC/MAC (Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control) protocol layer and an LLC (Logical Link Control) protocol layer employing the services of the RLC/MAC protocol layer as data link layers;

in data transmission an LLC frame of the LLC layer is placed in an RLC data block of the RLC/MAC layer, characterized by placing more than two LLC frames in one RLC data block.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by

an RLC data block comprising an RLC header field and an RLC data field,

and the RLC data block including a mechanism accurately indicating the length of the LLC frame included in each RLC data block and information on whether another LLC frame will follow said LLC frame or not.

3. A cellular network using a general packet radio service comprising:

a network part and at least one subscriber terminal;

data transmission between the network part and the subscriber terminal;

the network part and the subscriber terminal being arranged to perform data transmission using a protocol stack where an RLC/MAC (Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control) protocol layer and an LLC (Logical Link Control) protocol layer employing the services of the RLC/MAC protocol layer act as data link layers;

the network part and the subscriber terminal being arranged to use transmission units for data transmission in such a manner that an LLC frame of the LLC layer is placed in an RLC data block of the RLC/MAC layer, characterized by the network part and the subscriber terminal being arranged to locate more than two LLC frames in one RLC data block.

4. A cellular network as claimed in claim 3, characterized by

the RLC data block comprising an RLC header field and an RLC data field,

and the network part and the subscriber terminal being arranged to locate a mechanism in the RLC data block accurately indicating the length of the LLC frame included in the RLC data block and information about whether another LLC frame will follow said LLC frame or not.