System and method for evaluating lower layer reliability using upper layer protocol functionality in a communications network
In one embodiment, a method is provided for evaluating reliability of a communications link between a sender and a receiver in a wireless packet data network. The method comprises transmitting a datagram or at least a fragment thereof to the receiver; responsive to a failure to receive acknowledgment of receipt of the datagram or its fragment, setting a retransmit flag of the datagram fragment and retransmitting the datagram fragment; and responsive to receipt by the receiver of the retransmitted datagram fragment, detecting that the retransmit flag thereof is set, whereby a determination may be made, responsive to the detecting, that a defect exists in the communications link.
1 . A method for evaluating reliability of a communications link between a sender and a receiver in a wireless packet data network, the method comprising:
transmitting at least a fragment of a datagram to the receiver;
responsive to a failure to receive acknowledgment of receipt of the datagram fragment, setting a retransmit flag of the datagram fragment and retransmitting the datagram fragment; and
responsive to receipt by the receiver of the retransmitted datagram fragment, detecting that the retransmit flag thereof is set, whereby a determination may be made that a defect exists in the communications link.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to the detecting, initiating measures to correct the communications link defect.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the measures to correct comprise executing a detach/reattach procedure.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the measures to correct comprise resetting the receiver.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the measures to correct comprise notifying at least one of a carrier network and a transmitter associated with the communications link defect.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the datagram comprises a plurality of datagram fragments.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the detecting comprises detecting that a retransmit flag of at least one of the plurality of datagram fragments is set.
8 . A method for evaluating reliability of a communications link in a wireless packet data network, the method comprising:
detecting that at least a fragment of a datagram received at a receiver is a retransmitted datagram fragment; and
responsive to the detecting, the receiver initiating measures to correct a defect in the communications link.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising, subsequent to initiating:
detecting that a second datagram received at the receiver is a retransmitted datagram; and
responsive to the detecting the second retransmitted datagram, initiating additional measures to correct the communications link defect.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the detecting comprises detecting that a retransmit flag of the datagram fragment is set.
11 . The method of claim 8 wherein the datagram comprises a plurality of datagram fragments.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the detecting comprises detecting that a retransmit flag of at least one of the plurality of datagram fragments is set.
13 . The method of claim 8 wherein the corrective action comprises executing a detach/reattach procedure.
14 . The method of claim 8 wherein the corrective action comprises resetting the receiver.
15 . The method of claim 8 wherein the corrective action comprises notifying at least one of a carrier and a transmitter associated with the communications link of the defect.
16 . A mobile communications device, comprising:
means for communicating with a wireless packet data network over a communications link;
a logic module adapted to detect if a retransmit flag of at least a datagram fragment transmitted over the communication link is set, whereby a determination may be made that a defect exists in the communication link; and
a module for initiating a corrective action responsive to the determination.
17 . A system for evaluating reliability of a communications link between a sender and a receiver in a wireless packet data network, the system comprising:
means for transmitting at least a fragment of a datagram to the receiver;
means responsive to a failure to receive acknowledgment of receipt of the datagram fragment for setting a retransmit flag of the datagram fragment and retransmitting the datagram fragment; and
means responsive to receipt by the receiver of the retransmitted datagram fragment for detecting that the retransmit flag thereof is set, whereby a determination may be made, responsive to the detecting, that a defect exists in the communications link.
18 . The system of claim 17 further comprising means responsive to the detecting for initiating measures to correct the communications link defect.
19 . The system of claim 18 wherein the means for initiating comprises means for executing a detach/reattach procedure.
20 . The system of claim 18 wherein the means for initiating comprises means for resetting the receiver.
21 . The system of claim 18 wherein the means for initiating comprises means for notifying a carrier network of the communications link defect.