Protocol parameter negotiation
View Patent ↗This invention relates to a method for negotiating at least one parameter of a protocol that is operated between a first protocol entity ( 1 ) and a second protocol entity ( 2 ), comprising receiving ( 301 ) a first negotiation message ( 3 ) that carries a first value for the at least one parameter, wherein the first value is an invalid value for the at least one parameter, and sending ( 309 ) a second negotiation message that carries a second value for the at least one parameter in response to the first negotiation message ( 3 ). The invention further relates to a computer program, a computer program product, a system ( 30 ) a terminal ( 10 ) and a network element ( 20 ). The protocol may for instance be a Radio Link Protocol, and the first ( 3 ) and second ( 4 ) negotiation messages may for instance be eXchange Identification XID command and response, respectively.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a first negotiation message from a first protocol entity that carries a first value for at least one parameter of a protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and a second protocol entity, wherein said first value is an invalid value for said at least one parameter, and wherein said invalid value is not allowed by said protocol;
checking whether said at least one parameter is required for operation of said protocol; and
sending a second negotiation message to said first protocol entity that carries a second value for said at least one parameter in response to receiving said first negotiation message, wherein said second negotiation message is configured to prevent a termination or an interruption of a negotiation of said at least one parameter of said protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and said second protocol entity,
wherein said second value is set to a value representative of said first value when said at least one parameter is not required for said operation of said protocol.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said first value is a default value or a user-defined value for said at least one parameter.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
checking whether said first value for said at least one parameter may be negotiated from said invalid value to a valid value, wherein said valid value is allowed by said protocol.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said protocol is a radio link protocol.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said first negotiation message is an exchange identification command, and wherein said second negotiation message is an exchange identification response.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein when said first value for said at least one parameter is negotiated to said valid value, said second value in said second negotiation message is set to a value representative of said valid value, wherein said second value is a final or an intermediate result of said negotiation of said at least one parameter.
7. The method according to claim 1 , when said at least one parameter is required for said operation of said protocol, said second value is modified to a valid value before responding to said first negotiation message.
8. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
receive a first negotiation message from a first protocol entity that carries a first value for at least one parameter of a protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and a second protocol entity, wherein said first value is an invalid value for said at least one parameter, and wherein said invalid value is not allowed by said protocol;
check whether said at least one parameter is required for operation of said protocol; and
send a second negotiation message to said first protocol entity that carries a second value for said at least one parameter in response to receiving said first negotiation message, wherein said second negotiation message is configured to prevent a termination or an interruption of a negotiation of said at least one parameter of said protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and said second protocol entity,
wherein said second value is set to a value representative of said first value when said at least one parameter is not required for said operation of said protocol.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said first value is a default value or a user-defined value for said at least one parameter.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least check whether said first value for said at least one parameter may be negotiated from said invalid value to a valid value, wherein said valid value is allowed by said protocol.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said protocol is a radio link protocol.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said first negotiation message is exchange identification command, and wherein said second negotiation message is an exchange identification response.
13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein when said first value for said at least one parameter is negotiated to said valid value, said second value in said second negotiation message is set to a value representative of said valid value, wherein said second value is a final or an intermediate result of said negotiation of said at least one parameter.
14. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least modify, when said at least one parameter is required for the operation of said protocol, said second value to a valid value before responding to said first negotiation message.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, performs at least the following:
receive a first negotiation message from a first protocol entity that carries a first value for at least one parameter of a protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and a second protocol entity, wherein said first value is an invalid value for said at least one parameter, and wherein said invalid value is not allowed by said protocol;
check whether said at least one parameter is required for operation of said protocol; and
send a second negotiation message to said first protocol entity that carries a second value for said at least one parameter in response to receiving said first negotiation message, wherein said second negotiation message is configured to prevent a termination or an interruption of a negotiation of said at least one parameter of the protocol that is operated between said first protocol entity and said second protocol entity,
wherein said second value is set to a value representative of said first value when said at least one parameter is not required for said operation of said protocol.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein said first value is a default value or a user-defined value for said at least one parameter.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , further comprising:
checking whether said first value for said at least one parameter may be negotiated from said invalid value to a valid value, wherein said valid value is allowed by said protocol.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein said protocol is a radio link protocol.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 18 , wherein said first negotiation message is an exchange identification command, and wherein said second negotiation message is an exchange identification response.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , further configured to at least modify, when said at least one parameter is required for the operation of said protocol, said second value to a valid value before responding to said first negotiation message.