Data indicator for persistently allocated packets in a communications system

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a data buffer for storing received data;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

processing a reception of data with a new data indicator flag in accordance with said semi-persistent scheduling as:

a semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and storing parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are received without physical downlink control channel according to the stored parameters and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value; and

modifying said stored data in the data buffer depending on said value of said new data indicator flag.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first predefined value is zero and said second predefined value is one.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to:

receive another cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a non-semi-persistent scheduling; and

treat another reception of data with another new data indicator flag in accordance with said non-semi-persistent scheduling as one of:

new data if a value of said another new data indicator flag is different than a value of a previously received new data indicator flag, and

retransmitted data if said value of said another new data indicator flag is equal to said value of said previously received new data indicator flag.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to instruct said data buffer to modify said stored data by:

flushing said stored data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, or if the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are received without physical downlink control channel, and

combining said stored data with said retransmission of the semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to said second predefined value.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said new data indicator flag is provided in a physical downlink control channel.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which when run on a computer, causes the computer to:

receiving a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

processing a reception of data with a new data indicator flag in accordance with said semi-persistent scheduling as:

semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and storing parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are received without physical downlink control channel according to the stored parameters, and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value; and

modifying stored data in a data buffer depending on said value of said new data indicator flag.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

processing a reception of data with a new data indicator flag in accordance with said semi-persistent scheduling as:

semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and storing parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are received without physical downlink control channel according to the stored parameters, and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value; and

modifying stored data in a data buffer depending on said value of said new data indicator flag.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

provide a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

derive a new data indicator flag having:

a first predefined value for a semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions, and provide parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are transmitted without physical downlink control channel according to the provided parameters, and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a second predefined value for a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value; and

transmitting data with the derived new data indicator flag receivable by a user equipment for modifying data in a data buffer of the user equipment depending on the value of the new data indicator flag.

9. A method, comprising:

providing a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

deriving a new data indicator flag having:

a first predefined value for semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions, and providing parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, and wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are transmitted without physical downlink control channel according to the provided parameters, and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a second predefined value for a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value; and

transmitting data with the derived new data indicator flag receivable by a user equipment for modifying data in a data buffer of the user equipment depending on the value of the new data indicator flag.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a data buffer for storing received data;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

receiving a cell radio network temporary identifier indicating a semi-persistent scheduling; and

treating a reception of data with a new data indicator flag in accordance with said semi-persistent scheduling as:

semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and storing parameters when said new data indicator flag is equal to said first predefined value, wherein the one or more semi-persistent transmissions are received without physical downlink control channel according to the stored parameters, and wherein the new data indicator flag does not toggle every time new data is received, and

a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value;

receive another cell radio network temporary identifier indicating another semi-persistent scheduling or a non-semi-persistent scheduling; and

if said another cell radio network temporary identifier indicates said another semi-persistent scheduling, treat another reception of data with another new data indicator flag in accordance with said semi-persistent scheduling as:

semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said another new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and

a retransmission of semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said another new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value;

if said another cell radio network temporary identifier indicates a non-semi-persistent scheduling, treat another reception of data with another new data indicator flag in accordance with said non-semi-persistent scheduling as:

new data when a value of said another new data indicator flag is different than a value of a previously received new data indicator flag, and

retransmitted data when said value of said another new data indicator flag is equal to said value of said previously received new data indicator flag; and

modifying said stored data in the data buffer depending on said value of said new data indicator flag.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive subsequent transmissions of data,

if said subsequent transmissions of data are received without another new data indicator, assume the value of the new data indicator remains the same as the value of a most recent new data indicator;

if a new cell radio network temporary identifier indicating yet another semi-persistent scheduling is received, treating a reception of data with yet another new data indicator flag in accordance with said yet another semi-persistent scheduling as:

semi-persistent initial transmission that initializes one or more semi-persistent transmissions when a value of said yet another new data indicator flag is equal to a first predefined value, and

a retransmission of the semi-persistent scheduling data when said value of said yet another new data indicator flag is equal to a second predefined value, wherein said second predefined value is different than said first predefined value that indicates an initial transmission of semi-persistent scheduling data, wherein the retransmission having said value of said new data indicator flag equal to said second predefined value is a retransmission of a previous semi-persistent scheduling data transmission.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a subsequent initial transmission of semi-persistent scheduling data transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 6 , wherein a subsequent semi-persistent initial transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.

14. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a subsequent semi-persistent initial transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a subsequent semi-persistent initial transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein a subsequent semi-persistent initial transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein a subsequent semi-persistent initial transmission is received without a new data indicator flag.