Method and apparatus for providing configurable layers and protocols in a communications system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for configuring a layer or protocol prior to commencement of data communication by a first entity, the apparatus comprising:
- means for selecting at the first entity a set of one or more layers and one or more protocols to be negotiated, wherein each selected layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute to be negotiated between the first entity and a second entity;
means for determining, for each attribute, a list of selected attribute values that includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity;
means for sending from the first entity a list of selected attributes and their associated lists of selected attribute values;
means for receiving at the first entity the list of processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values, wherein each list of processed attribute values includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity; and
means for configuring the selected set of one or more layers and one or more protocols in the first entity in accordance with the received list of the processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values.
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Abstract
The layers and protocols of an air interface layering architecture are designed to be modular and can be modified and upgraded to support new features, perform complex tasks, and implement additional functionality. Prior to commencement of data communication between a first entity (e.g., an access terminal) and a second entity (e.g., a radio network), a set of layers and/or protocols is selected for negotiation. For each selected layer and protocol (i.e., each attribute), a list of attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity is determined. The selected attributes and their associated attribute values are sent from the first entity and, in response, a list of processed attributes and their associated lists of processed attribute values are received. Each list of processed attribute values includes attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity. The layers and protocols in the first entity are then configured in accordance with the received list of processed attributes and their associated processed attribute values. Other features related to configurable layers and protocols are also provided.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for configuring a layer or protocol prior to commencement of data communication by a first entity, the apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting at the first entity a set of one or more layers and one or more protocols to be negotiated, wherein each selected layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute to be negotiated between the first entity and a second entity; means for determining, for each attribute, a list of selected attribute values that includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity; means for sending from the first entity a list of selected attributes and their associated lists of selected attribute values; means for receiving at the first entity the list of processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values, wherein each list of processed attribute values includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity; and means for configuring the selected set of one or more layers and one or more protocols in the first entity in accordance with the received list of the processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for providing configurable layers or protocols, or both, in a communications system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for maintaining a set of default layers and protocols for use at a first entity to communicate with a second entity; means for maintaining a set of one or more configurable layers and one or more configurable protocols, or a combination thereof, wherein each configurable layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute that can be negotiated between the first entity and the second entity; means for providing a set of configuration messages used for sending and receiving configuration information related to each attribute; and means for providing a state machine indicative of a communications state of the first entity. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification