Methods and devices for preventing protocol stalling

• US 20040013087A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Qinqing, Su, Hsuan-Jung
• Granted Patent: US 7,764,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques for preventing protocol stalling. A control platform is adapted to generate a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received. The control platform is further adapted to examine stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets. A transmission platform is adapted to transmit an earliest transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected.

Claims

1. A device for preventing protocol stalling, comprising:

a control platform adapted to utilize a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received;

the control platform further adapted to examine stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets; and

a transmission platform adapted to transmit an earliest transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the earliest transmitted packet comprises a signal adapted to request an acknowledgement signal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the control platform is further adapted to generate the predetermined time period when the earliest transmitted packet is transmitted.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the control platform is further adapted to generate the predetermined time period by utilizing an RLC protocol Poll Timer.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reception unit adapted to receive at least one acknowledgement signal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a traffic processing unit.

7. A device for preventing protocol stalling, comprising:

a control platform adapted to utilize a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received;

the control platform further adapted to examine stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets;

the control platform further adapted to examine stored packets to detect a last transmitted packet; and

a transmission platform adapted to transmit the last transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the last transmitted packet comprises a signal adapted to request an acknowledgement signal.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the control platform is further adapted to retain the last transmitted packet.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the control platform is further adapted to transmit an earliest transmitted packet if the last transmitted packet is not detected.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the control platform is further adapted to generate the predetermined time period when the earliest transmitted packet is transmitted.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the control platform is further adapted to generate the predetermined time period when the last transmitted packet is transmitted.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the control platform further adapted to generate the predetermined time period by utilizing an RLC protocol Poll Timer.

14. The device of claim 7, further comprising a reception unit adapted to receive at least one acknowledgement signal.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the device comprises a traffic processing unit.

16. A method for preventing protocol stalling, comprising:

generating a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received;

examining stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets; and

transmitting an earliest transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the earliest transmitted packet comprises a signal adapted to request an acknowledgement signal.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined time period is generated when the earliest transmitted packet is transmitted.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating the predetermined time period by utilizing an RLC protocol Poll Timer.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving at least one acknowledgement signal.

21. A method for preventing protocol stalling, comprising:

generating a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received;

examining stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets,

examining stored packets to detect a last transmitted packet; and

transmitting the last transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the last transmitted packet comprises a signal adapted to request an acknowledgement signal.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising retaining the last transmitted packet.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting an earliest transmitted packet if the last transmitted packet is not detected.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined time period is generated when the earliest transmitted packet is transmitted.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined time period is generated when the last transmitted packet is transmitted.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating the predetermined time period by utilizing an RLC protocol Poll Timer.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving at least one acknowledgement signal.

29. A device for preventing protocol stalling, comprising:

a control platform adapted to utilize a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period is reset when an acknowledgement signal is received;

the control platform further adapted to examine stored packets to detect new or negatively acknowledged packets;

the control platform further adapted to examine stored packets to detect a last transmitted packet; and

a transmission platform adapted to transmit the last transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected if the last transmitted packet is detected; and

the transmission platform adapted to transmit an earliest transmitted packet after the predetermined time period expires when no new or negatively acknowledged packets are detected if the last transmitted packet is not detected.