MAC packet data unit construction for wireless system

• US 8,989,206 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Hang, Fong, Mo-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US13/645,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20130034075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 370/203, 370/204, 370/206, 370/208, 370/210, 370/242, 370/246, 370/328, 370/331, 370/437, 370/471
• US Class Current: 370/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/065 using assembly or disassembly of packets

Abstract

A method for wireless communication using MAC PDUs. The method includes determining one or more characteristics of a service flow and selecting on the basis of the one or more characteristics a MAC PDU header type among a plurality of MAC PDU header types. The service flow data is encapsulated in MAC PDUs with a header of the selected type. The MAC PDUs with the encapsulated service flow data are then wirelessly transmitted. Also, a method for communication between a Base Station (BS) and a Subscriber Station (SS). The method includes generating at the BS a plurality of MAC PDU packets with a payload component holding service flow data and a plurality of MAC PDU packets without payload component, carrying control information. The method also includes transmitting wirelessly the MAC PDU packets with the payload component and the MAC PDU packets with the control information to the SS.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), the method comprising:

at a communication device;

determining control information that conveys at least one parameter of the wireless communication system;

encapsulating the control information into a sub-header of a MAC PDU, wherein;

a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

populating fields of a header of the MAC PDU to indicate that;

a payload is excluded from the MAC PDU, and

the sub-header encapsulates the control information; and

wirelessly transmitting the MAC PDU.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a communication device, cause the communication device to implement a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), by carrying out steps that include:

determining control information that conveys at least one parameter of the wireless communication system;

encapsulating the control information into a sub-header of a MAC PDU, wherein;

a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

populating fields of a header of the MAC PDU to indicate that;

a payload is excluded from the MAC PDU, and

the sub-header encapsulates the control information; and

wirelessly transmitting the MAC PDU.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.

11. A communication device configured to implement a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), the communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to carry out steps that include;

determining control information that conveys at least one parameter of the wireless communication system;

encapsulating the control information into a sub-header of a MAC PDU, wherein;

a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

populating fields of a header of the MAC PDU to indicate that;

a payload is excluded from the MAC PDU, and the sub-header encapsulates the control information; and

wirelessly transmitting the MAC PDU.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

13. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

14. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

15. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.

16. A method for implementing a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), the method comprising:

at a communication device;

receiving a MAC PDU, wherein the MAC PDU excludes a payload but includes control information;

processing a header of the MAC PDU to identify a manner in which the control information is included within the MAC PDU, wherein the header indicates that;

(1) the control information is encapsulated in a sub-header of the MAC PDU,

(2) a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

(3) a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

extracting the control information from the sub-header of the MAC PDU; and

implementing an action in response to extracting the control information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a communication device, cause the communication device to implement a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), by carrying out steps that include:

receiving a MAC PDU, wherein the MAC PDU excludes a payload but includes control information;

processing a header of the MAC PDU to identify a manner in which the control information is included within the MAC PDU, wherein the header indicates that;

(1) the control information is encapsulated in a sub-header of the MAC PDU,

(2) a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

(3) a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

extracting the control information from the sub-header of the MAC PDU; and

implementing an action in response to extracting the control information.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.

26. A communication device configured to implement a wireless communication system using Medium Access Control Protocol Data Units (MAC PDUs), the communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to carry out steps that include;

receiving a MAC PDU, wherein the MAC PDU excludes a payload but includes control information;

processing a header of the MAC PDU to identify a manner in which the control information is included within the MAC PDU, wherein the header indicates that;

(1) the control information is encapsulated in a sub-header of the MAC PDU,

(2) a first portion of the control information is stored in a first field of the sub-header that corresponds to the most significant bits (MSBs) of the control information, and

(3) a second portion of the control information is stored in a second field of the sub-header that corresponds to the least significant bits (LSBs) of the control information;

extracting the control information from the sub-header of the MAC PDU; and

implementing an action in response to extracting the control information.

27. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the sub-header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates that the control information in the MAC PDU is the last MAC PDU of a series of MAC PDUs that convey the control information.

28. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the MAC PDU includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a number of MAC Service Data Units (SDUs) in the payload when the MAC PDU includes the payload.

29. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the header includes a field that can be assigned a value that indicates a type of the control information encapsulated in the sub-header of the MAC PDU.

30. The communication device of claim 26, wherein the control information comprises Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) information.