Apparatus, computer program product, and methods for flexible data unit segmentation and arrangement
View Patent ↗Apparatus, computer program products and methods allow inclusion and segmentation of multiple SDUs within a PDU, and generate information (such as header information) necessary to identify, e.g., the position of the segmented SDUs within the PDU. Prior knowledge of the typically used (i.e., predetermined) SDU size is used to perform segmentation operations, hi one exemplary variant, apparatus, methods and computer program products determine if a particular one of a set of input data units (SDUs) is to be segmented in order to fit a portion of the set, including a segment of the particular input data unit, into an output data unit (PDU); segment the input data unit in response to determining the particular input data unit is to be segmented; add the portion of the set to a data portion of the output data unit, and add into the output data unit an indication of a position of the segment in the data portion. In another variant, apparatus, computer program products and methods receive first data units, each of the first data units including a plurality of data portions having a plurality of second data units, each of at least two of the first data units including an indication of a position of a segment of a second data unit in associated ones of the data portions; combine using at least the indications the segments to create a complete second data unit; and output the complete second data unit.
1. A method comprising:
generating an output data unit including one or more first typical input data units having a predetermined length and one atypical second input data unit having a length different from the predetermined length;
generating a header for the output data unit, wherein the header comprises only one length indicator serving both the one or more first typical input data units and the one atypical second input data unit, wherein the only one length indicator is utilized to calculate the number of first typical input data units and the actual length of the atypical second input data units; and
transmitting, via a transmitter, the output data unit and the header to a receiver.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
segmenting the one or more first typical input data units into a plurality of portions; and
adding only a subset of the plurality of portions into the output data unit.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first typical input data units comprise service data units and wherein the output data unit comprises a protocol data unit.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one atypical second input data unit is a segmented portion of a typical input data unit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one atypical second input data unit is located at one of a beginning of the output data unit and an end of the output data unit.
6. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor configured for:
generating an output data unit including one or more first typical input data units having a predetermined length and one atypical second input data unit having a length different from the predetermined length;
generating a header for the output data unit, wherein the header comprises only one length indicator serving both the one or more first typical input data units and the one atypical second input data unit, wherein the only one length indicator is utilized to calculate the number of first typical input data units and the actual length of the atypical second input data units; and
transmitting, via a transmitter, the output data unit and the header to a receiver.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
segmenting the one or more first typical input data units into a plurality of portions; and
adding only a subset of the plurality of portions into the output data unit.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more first typical input data units comprise service data units and wherein the output data unit comprises a protocol data unit.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one atypical second input data unit is a segmented portion of a typical input data unit.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one atypical second input data unit is located at one of a beginning of the output data unit and an end of the output data unit.