Window-based polling scheme for a wireless communications protocol

• US RE40,077 E1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovative Sonic Limited
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Jiang, Sam Shiaw-Shiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, ANH VU H
• Application Number:
  US11/247,003
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 370/346, 370/449, 370/496
• US Class Current: 370/346
• 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: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A transmitter is capable of transmitting layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs). Each PDU has an n-bit sequence number. A base sequence number BT(A) is obtained that marks a beginning sequence number of a transmitting window of the transmitter. A current sequence number VT(S) is obtained that marks a sequence number of a PDU that is next to be transmitted by the transmitter. 2ⁿ is added to a difference of the current sequence number VT(S) and the base sequence number VT(A) to yield a first value. A second value is obtained that is a modulus of the first value with 2ⁿ. A test value is then obtained that is the second value divided by a size of the transmitting window. Polling is triggered when the test value is greater than or equal to a polling value. The polling value represents a percentage of the transmitting window that has been transmitted.

Claims

1. A method for determining triggering of a polling request in a wireless communications protocol for a transmitter, the transmitter capable of for transmitting layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs), each PDU comprising an n-bit sequence number, the method comprising:

obtaining a base sequence number VT(A), the base sequence number VT(A) marking a beginning sequence number of a transmitting window of the transmitter;

obtaining a current sequence number VT(S), the current sequence number VT(S) marking a sequence number of a PDU that is next to be transmitted by the transmitter;

obtaining a first value that is includes 2ⁿ added to a difference of the current sequence number VT(S) and the base sequence number VT(A);

and

obtaining a second value that is a modulus of the first value with 2ⁿ;

and

obtaining a test value that is the second value divided by a size of the transmitting window;

wherein polling is triggered when the test value is greater than or equal to a polling value

wherein polling is triggered according to the second value and a size of the transmitting window.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the second value further comprises a minimum value choosing operation with the size of the transmitting window.

3. The method of claim 1 9 wherein the polling value indicates a percentage of PDUs in the transmitting window that have been transmitted by the transmitter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a test value that is the second value divided by a size of the transmitting window;

wherein polling is triggered according to the test value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein polling is triggered when the test value is greater than or equal to a polling value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein n=12.

4. A wireless communications system comprising a transmitter capable of for transmitting layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs) to a receiver, each PDU comprising an n-bit sequence number, the transmitter comprising:

a state variable VT(A) indicating a starting sequence number of a transmitting window;

a state variable VT(WS) indicating a number of PDUs spanned by the transmitting window;

a state variable VT(S) indicating a sequence number of a PDU within the transmitting window that is next to be transmitted; and

a calculation unit capable of obtaining a test value t according to a relation that comprises;

t=((2ⁿ+VT(S)−

VT(A))mod 2ⁿ)VT(WS);

wherein the transmitter polls the receiver when the test value t is greater than or equal to a polling value for obtaining a test value according to a modulus of a first value with 2ⁿ and according to the state variable VT(WS), the first value including 2ⁿ added to a difference between the state variable VT(S) and the state variable VT(A);

wherein the transmitter polls the receiver according to the test value.

5. The system of claim 4 12 wherein the polling value indicates a percentage of PDUs in the transmitting window that have been transmitted by the transmitter.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the calculation unit is further for obtaining the test value t according to a relation that comprises:

t=((2ⁿ+VT(S)−

VT(A))mod 2ⁿ)/VT(WS).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter polls the receiver when the test value t is greater than or equal to a polling value.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein n=12.

6. A wireless communications system comprising a transmitter capable of for transmitting layer 2 protocol data units (PDUs) to a receiver, each PDU comprising an n-bit sequence number, the transmitter comprising:

a state variable VT(A) indicating a starting sequence number of a transmitting window;

a state variable VT(WS) indicating a number of PDUs spanned by the transmitting window;

a state variable VT(S) indicating a sequence number of a PDU within the transmitting window that is next to be transmitted; and

a calculation unit capable of obtaining a test value t according to a relation that comprises;

t=min(((2ⁿ+VT(S)−

VT(A))mod 2ⁿ), VT(WS))/VT(WS);

v

wherein the transmitter polls the receiver when the test value t is greater than or equal to a polling value for obtaining a test value that does not exceed a predetermined value according to a modulus of a first value with 2ⁿ and according to the state variable VT(WS), the first value including 2ⁿ added to a difference between the state variable VT(S) and the state variable VT(A);

wherein the transmitter polls the receiver according to the test value.

7. The system of claim 6 15 wherein the polling value indicates a percentage of PDUs in the transmitting window that have been transmitted by the transmitter.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the calculation unit is further for obtaining the test value t according to a relation that comprises:

t=min(((2n+VT(S)−

VT(A))mod 2n), VT(WS))/VT(WS).

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transmitter polls the receiver when the test value t is greater than or equal to a polling value.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein n=12.