Flexible radio link control protocol

• US 6,947,394 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rathonyi, Bela, Johansson, Mathias, Roobol, Christiaan, Sachs, Joachim, Meyer, Michael, Beming, Per, Kalden, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US09/544,826
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 370/282, 370/395.53, 370/449, 370/450, 370/451, 370/454, 370/456, 370/252, 370/465, 370/468, 709/225, 709/235, 709/250
• US Class Current: 370/282
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms

Abstract

A flexible Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol for a mobile communication system is provided, whereby a plurality of different RLC functions are defined. These different RLC functions can be combined in a number of different ways to produce a complete and functional, but more flexible RLC protocol than the existing protocol. For example, a new set of rules are provided for determining how and/or when to poll for, or send, a status report for Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) purposes. As such, for a specific service configuration, one set of the rules can be used, and for a different service configuration, another set of the rules can be used. In this way, the rules can be conformed suitably to the type of service involved.

Claims

1. In a communication system, a method of implementing a flexible link-layer protocol that enables transmission of date between a link-layer transmitting peer entity and a link-layer receiving peer entity, wherein the transmitting peer entity transmits a plurality of packet data units (PDUs) to the receiving peer entity, said method comprising the steps of:

determining by the transmitting peer entity, a first configurable set of rules governing whether the transmitting peer entity should send polling requests to the receiving peer entity, and if so, how and/or how often the polling requests should be sent;

upon determining that the transmitting peer entity should send polling requests to the receiving peer entity, sending polling requests from the transmitting peer entity to the receiving peer entity in accordance with the first configurable set of rules;

determining by the receiving peer entity, a second configurable set of rules governing whether the receiving peer entity should send status reports to the transmitting peer entity in response to receiving one or more polling requests, and if so, how and/or how often the status reports should be sent; and

upon determining that the receiving peer entity should send status reports to the transmitting peer entity, sending status reports from the receiving peer entity to the transmitting peer entity in accordance with the second configurable set of rules;

wherein the first and second sets of rules are configurable and combinable to change whether the transmitting peer entity should send polling requests, and if so, how and/or how often the transmitting peer entity should send the polling requests, and whether the receiving peer entity should send status reports, and if so, how and/or how often the receiving peer entity should send the status reports.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when a last Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in a transmission buffer is transmitted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when the status report has not been received by the transmitting peer entity and a polling timer has timed out.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted a predefined number of Protocol Data Units (PDUs).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted a predefined number of Service Data Units (SDUs).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined portion of a transmitting window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to send the polling request when these transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of rules causes the transmitting peer entity to defer sending the polling request for a predefined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting by the transmitting peer entity, a transmission window parameter in response to receiving the status report.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising retransmitting by the transmitting peer entity, at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) responsive to receiving said status report.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining by the transmitting peer entity whether the status report sent by the receiving peer entity is plausible; and

retransmitting by the transmitting peer entity, at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in response to determining that the status report is plausible.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity if an estimated Protocol Data Unit (PDU) counter is not counting, and causes the receiving peer entity to not send the status report to the transmitting peer entity if the estimated PDU counter is counting.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity, if the receiving peer entity detects at least one missing or incorrectly received Protocol Data Unit (PDU).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity when a predefined number of Protocol Data Units (PDUs) is received.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity when a predefined number of Service Data Units (SDUs) is received.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity in response to receiving the polling request.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to transmit the status report to the transmitting peer entity when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined portion of a transmitting window.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to send the status report to the transmitting peer entity during a predefined period of time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of rules causes the receiving peer entity to defer sending the status report for a predefined period of time.

20. In a communication network, a system for implementing a flexible link-layer protocol that enables transmission of data between a link-layer transmitting peer entity and a link-layer receiving peer entity, wherein the transmitting peer entity transmits a plurality of packet data units (PDUs) to the receiving peer entity, said system comprising:

means within the transmitting peer entity for selecting a first configurable set of rules governing whether the transmitting peer entity should send polling requests to the receiving peer entity, and if so, how and/or how often the polling requests should be sent;

signaling means in the transmitting peer entity for sending polling requests from the transmitting peer entity to the receiving peer entity in accordance with the first set of rules;

means within the receiving peer entity for selecting a second configurable set of rules governing whether the receiving peer entity should send status reports to the transmitting peer entity in response to receiving one or more polling requests, and if so, how and/or how often the status reports should be sent; and

signaling means in the receiving peer entity for sending a status report from the receiving peer entity to the transmitting peer entity in accordance with the second set of rules;

wherein the first and second sets of rules are configurable and combinable to change whether the transmitting peer entity should send polling requests, and if so, how and/or how often the transmitting peer entity should send the polling requests, and whether the receiving peer entity should send status reports, and if so, how and/or how often the receiving peer entity should send the status reports.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when a last Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in a transmission buffer is transmitted.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when the status report has not been received by the transmitting peer entity and a polling timer has timed out.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted a predefined number of Protocol Data Units (PDUs).

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted a predefined number of Service Data Units (SDUs).

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined portion of a transmitting window.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity sends the polling request when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined period of time.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the transmitting peer entity defers sending the polling request for a predefined period of time.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmitting peer entity also includes means for adjusting a transmission window parameter in response to receiving the status report.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmitting peer entity also includes means for retransmitting at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in response to receiving the status report.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmitting peer entity also includes:

means for determining whether the status report sent by the receiving peer entity is plausible; and

means for retransmitting at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) in response to determining that the status report is plausible.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report to the transmitting peer entity if an estimated Protocol Data Unit (PDU) counter is not counting, and does not send the status report to the transmitting peer entity if the estimated PDU counter is counting.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report to the transmitting peer entity if the receiving peer entity detects at least one missing or incorrectly received Protocol Data Unit (PDU).

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report to the transmitting peer entity when a predefined number of Protocol Data Units (PDUs) is received.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report to the transmitting peer entity when a predefined number of Service Data Units (SDUs) is received.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report to the transmitting peer entity when the transmitting peer entity has transmitted during a predefined portion of a transmitting window.

36. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity sends the status report during a predefined period of time.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein the signaling means in the receiving peer entity defers sending the status report for a predefined period of time.