Variable rate coding for enabling high performance communication
View Patent ↗A protocol for optimizing the use of coded transmissions such as over wireless links. In this technique, interframes are split into segments selected to be an optimum size according to transmission characteristics of the radio channel. The inverse process is applied at the receiver. Using this scheme, segments containing erroneous data may be present.
1. A method for communication of data, implemented in a transmitter, the method comprising:
segmenting higher layer data units into segments according to size information received from a lower layer, wherein the size information is determined based on observed radio channel characteristics;
adding information to each segment to permit reassembly at a receiver;
providing the segments to the lower layer for transmission;
receiving a request for retransmission of the segments from the receiver;
further segmenting the segments according to size information received from the lower layer, wherein the size information is determined based on subsequent observed radio channel characteristics; and
providing the further segmented segments to the lower layer for retransmission.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the observed radio channel characteristics include an observed channel error rate.
3. The method of claim 1 implemented in an intermediate layer, wherein the lower layer is a physical layer and the higher layer is a network layer.
4. A subscriber unit for communication of data comprising:
a processor configured to segment higher layer data units into segments according to size information received from a lower layer, wherein the size information is determined based on observed radio channel characteristics;
the processor configured to add information to each segment to permit reassembly at a service provider unit;
the processor configured to provide the segments to the lower layer for transmission;
a receiver configured to receive a request for retransmission of the segments from the service provider unit;
the processor configured to further segment the segments according to size information received from the lower layer, wherein the size information is determined based on subsequent observed radio channel characteristics; and
the processor configured to provide the further segmented segments to the lower layer for retransmission.
5. The subscriber unit of claim 4 wherein the observed radio channel characteristics include an observed channel error rate.
6. The subscriber unit of claim 4 wherein the lower layer is a physical layer and the higher layer is a network layer.