Medium access control header format

1. A method of employing a plurality of medium access control header formats, comprising:

determining a medium access control header format according to a type of data included in an associated medium access control payload;

establishing a size of a medium access control length field of the determined medium access control header format, the size varying based at least in part on the associated medium access control payload;

generating a medium access control header in accordance with the determined medium access control header format, the medium access control header comprising a logical channel identifier field, the medium access control length field, and a field indicating the size of the medium access control length field within the medium access control header; and

transmitting the medium access control header and the associated medium access control payload.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the type of data includes one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , in which the header format corresponds to one or more of a control header, a user header, a pad header, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3 , in which the control header comprises a first level logical channel identifier, a protocol identifier, and a second level logical channel identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 , in which the protocol identifier specifies a protocol layer associated with a protocol data unit encapsulated in the associated medium access control payload.

6. The method of claim 5 , in which the protocol identifier specifies one or more of a medium access control protocol data unit, a radio link control protocol data unit, a packet data convergence protocol data unit, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , in which the medium access control length field comprises zero bits, seven bits, or fifteen bits.

8. The method of claim 3 , the pad header comprises a logical channel identifier and a reserved field.

9. A communications apparatus utilizing variable medium access control headers, comprising:

means for determining a medium access control header format according to a type of data included in an associated medium access control payload;

means for establishing a size of a medium access control length field of the determined medium access control header format, the size varying based at least in part on the associated medium access control payload;

means for generating a medium access control header in accordance with the determined medium access control header format, the medium access control header comprising a logical channel identifier field, the medium access control length field, and a field to indicate the size of the medium access control length field within the medium access control header; and

means for transmitting the medium access control header and the associated medium access control payload.

10. The communications apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the type of data includes one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof.

11. The communications apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the header format corresponds to one or more of a control header, a user header, a pad header, or a combination thereof.

12. The communications apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control header comprises a protocol identifier and a second level logical channel identifier.

13. The communications apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the protocol identifier specifies a protocol layer associated with a protocol data unit encapsulated in the associated medium access control payload.

14. The communications apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the protocol identifier specifies one or more of a medium access control protocol data unit, a radio link control protocol data unit, a packet data convergence protocol data unit, or a combination thereof.

15. The communications apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the medium access control length field comprises zero bits, seven bits, or fifteen bits.

16. The communications apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the pad header comprises a logical channel identifier and a reserved field.

17. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to:

determining a medium access control header format according to a type of data included in an associated medium access control payload, wherein the type of data includes one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof,

establishing a size of a medium access control length field of the determined medium access control header format, the size varying based at least in part on the associated medium access control payload;

generating a medium access control header in accordance with the determined medium access control header format, and

transmitting the medium access control header and the associated medium access control payload, the medium access control header comprising a logical channel identifier field, the medium access control length field, and a field to indicate the size of the variable medium access control length field within the medium access control header; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

18. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to determine a medium access control header format according to a type of data included in an associated medium access control payload, wherein the type of data includes one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof;

code for causing at least one computer to establish a size of a medium access control length field of the determined medium access control header format, the size varying based at least in part on the associated medium access control payload;

code for causing at least one computer to generate a medium access control header in accordance with the determined medium access control header format, the medium access control header comprising a logical channel identifier field, the medium access control length field, and a field to indicate the size of the medium access control length field within the medium access control header; and

code for causing at least one computer to transmit the medium access control header and the associated medium access control payload.

19. A method of communicating with variable medium access control header formats, comprising:

receiving a medium access control payload and an associated header;

determining a type of data included in the medium access control payload based at least in part on a logical channel identifier in the associated header;

evaluating the medium access control payload in accordance with the type of data and one or more protocol layers; and

determining a size of a medium access control length field in the associated header based at least in part on a value of a field in the associated header indicating the size of the medium access control length field.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the type of data includes one or more of a control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising ascertaining a protocol layer associated with an encapsulated control data unit for control data based at least in part on a protocol identifier included in a control data medium access control header.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising directly delivering the encapsulated control data to the associated protocol layer.

23. A communications apparatus communicating with variable medium access control header formats, comprising:

means for receiving a medium access control payload and an associated header;

means for determining a type of data included in the medium access control payload based at least in part on a logical channel identifier in the associated header;

means for evaluating the medium access control payload in accordance with the type of data and one or more protocol layers; and

means for determining a size of a medium access control length field in the associated header based on a value of a field in the associated header indicating the size of the medium access control length field.

24. The communications apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the type of data includes one or more of a control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof.

25. The communications apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising means for ascertaining a protocol layer associated with an encapsulated control data unit for control data based at least in part on a protocol identifier included in a control data medium access control header.

26. The communications apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising means for directly delivering the encapsulated control data to the associated protocol layer.

27. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to:

receiving a medium access control payload and an associated header,

determining a type of data included in the medium access control payload based at least in part on a logical channel identifier in the associated header, wherein the type of data can be one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof,

evaluating the medium access control payload in accordance with the type of data and one or more protocol layers, and

determining a size of a medium access control length field in the associated header based at least in part on a value of a field in the associated header indicating the size of the medium access control length field; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

28. A computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to receive a medium access control payload and an associated header;

code for causing at least one computer to determine a type of data included in the medium access control payload based at least in part on a logical channel identifier in the associated header wherein the type of data can be one or more of control data, user data, pad data, or a combination thereof;

code for causing at least one computer to evaluate the medium access control payload in accordance with the type of data and one or more protocol layers; and

code for causing at least one computer to determine a size of a medium access control length field in the associated header based at least in part on a value of a field in the associated header indicating the size of the medium access control length field.