Method and apparatus for operating a timer for processing data blocks
View Patent ↗A timer for processing data blocks is proposed for a receiver of a mobile communications system. If the timer is not running, the timer is started based a data block. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. If the timer is stopped or expires, the timer is based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity. The timer can be used to prevent a stall condition in mobile communications.
1. A method of operating a timer for processing data blocks in a receiver of a mobile communications system, the method comprising:
if a timer is not running, starting, by the receiver, the timer based on a sequence number of a data block higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received; and
when the timer expires, starting, by the receiver, the timer based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are implemented in a mobile terminal.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the steps are performed at a medium access control (MAC) layer in the mobile terminal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the higher entity is a MAC-d sub-layer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the higher entity is a radio link control (RLC) layer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps are for high-speed data packet access technology.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein no additional timer is started if the timer is running.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
delivering received data blocks that can be delivered to the higher entity.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the received data blocks are delivered to the higher entity in sequence.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the received data blocks are MAC-hs
(Medium Access Control—high speed) protocol data unit (PDU).
11. An apparatus to operate a timer for processing data blocks in a receiver of a mobile communications system, the apparatus comprising:
a buffer; and
a timer operated with the buffer, the timer configured to,
if the timer is not running, start the timer based on a sequence number of a data block higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received, and
when the timer expires, start the timer based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is implemented in a mobile terminal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the buffer and the timer is operated with a medium access control (MAC) layer in the mobile terminal.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the higher entity is a MAC-d sub-layer.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the higher entity is a radio link control (RLC) layer.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the buffer and the timer are for high-speed data packet access technology.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein no additional timer is started if the timer is running.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the buffer is configured to deliver received data blocks that can be delivered to the higher entity.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the received data blocks are delivered to the higher entity in sequence.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the received data blocks are MAC-hs (Medium Access Control—high speed) protocol data unit (PDU).