Method and device for counting transmission times of data unit, transmission device, and computer program

• US 8,171,363 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Soejima, Yoshinori, Obuchi, Kazuhisa, Shimizu, Hirotoshi, Otonari, Akihide, Okamoto, Shinya, Yamasaki, Miki, Shinohara, Chiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): LOHN, JOSHUA A
• Application Number:
  US12/216,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20090044068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 714/50, 714/51, 714/748, 714/750, 714/798, 370/230, 370/235
• US Class Current: 714/748
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/187 Details of sliding window management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1877 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications like streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream control arrangements H04N21/44004

Abstract

A method for counting correctly substantial transmission times of a data unit such as an RLC-PDU even if the data unit is divided before being transmitted is provided. The method includes the steps of preparing a counter for the RLC-PDU (#503), making a storage portion store a pointer indicating a position of a division PDU of the RLC-PDU to be transmitted every time when the division PDU obtained by dividing the RLC-PDU is transmitted (#504), determining whether or not the transmission times should be counted along with a transmission of the division PDU to be transmitted based on the pointer of the division PDU to be transmitted and the pointer of a division PDU that was transmitted last time (#505, #506 and #507), and making the counter perform the count process when it is determined that the transmission times should be counted (#508).

Claims

1. A method for counting transmission times of a data unit with a transmission device that can transmit the data unit to a reception device as it is or part by part after dividing the data unit into parts, and can retransmit the transmitted data unit to the reception device, the method comprising:

preparing a counter that counts the transmission times;

making a storage portion store position information indicating a position of the data unit to be transmitted every time when the transmission device transmits the data unit to the reception device;

determining whether or not the transmission times should be counted along with a transmission of the data unit based on the position information of the data unit to be transmitted and position information of a data unit that was transmitted last time; and

making the counter count the transmission times when it is determined by the determining that the transmission times should be counted.

2. The method for counting transmission times of a data unit according to claim 1, further comprising counting update times of updating information about the transmission times if it is necessary to add information about the transmission times when a request for retransmission of the data unit is issued by the reception device.

3. The method for counting transmission times of a data unit according to claim 1, wherein the determining includes determining that the transmission times should be counted when a leading position of the data unit to be transmitted indicated in the position information of the data unit to be transmitted is prior to an ending position of the data unit that was transmitted last time indicated in the position information of the data unit that was transmitted last time, or the leading position and the ending position are the same.

4. The method for counting transmission times of a data unit according to claim 1, wherein it is determined by the determining that the transmission times should be counted regardless of contents of the position information of the data unit to be transmitted or contents of the position information of the data unit that was transmitted last time if the data unit to be transmitted is an entirety of the data unit that was transmitted last time.

5. The method for counting transmission times of a data unit according to claim 1, wherein the data unit is a Protocol Data Unit of a Radio Link Control sub layer.

6. A count device for counting transmission times of a data unit with a transmission device that can transmit the data unit to a reception device as it is or part by part after dividing the data unit into parts, and can retransmit the transmitted data unit to the reception device, the count device comprising:

a storage portion that stores position information indicating a position of the data unit to be transmitted every time when the transmission device transmits the data unit to the reception device;

a determining portion that determines whether or not the transmission times should be counted along with a transmission of the data unit based on the position information of the data unit to be transmitted and position information of a data unit that was transmitted last time; and

a counting portion that counts the transmission times when it is determined by the determining portion that the transmission times should be counted.

7. A transmission device that can transmit a data unit to a reception device as it is or part by part after dividing the data unit into parts, and can retransmit the transmitted data unit to the reception device, the transmission device comprising:

a storage portion that stores position information indicating a position of the data unit to be transmitted every time when the transmission device transmits the data unit to the reception device;

a determining portion that determines whether or not transmission times should be counted along with a transmission of the data unit based on the position information of the data unit to be transmitted and position information of a data unit that was transmitted last time; and

a counting portion that counts the transmission times when it is determined by the determining portion that the transmission times should be counted.

8. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions, for use in a computer, for counting transmission times of a data unit with a transmission device that can transmit the data unit to a reception device as it is or part by part after dividing the data unit into parts, and can retransmit the transmitted data unit to the reception device, the computer program instructions, when executed, causing the computer to execute processes comprising:

a process of making a storage portion store position information indicating a position of the data unit to be transmitted every time when the transmission device transmits the data unit to the reception device;

a process of determining whether or not the transmission times should be counted along with a transmission of the data unit based on the position information of the data unit to be transmitted and position information of a data unit that was transmitted last time; and

a process of counting the transmission times when it is determined by the process of determining that the transmission times should be counted.