Method for packet data convergence protocol count synchronization

1. A method of count synchronization in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

maintaining, at a transmitting wireless communication device, a respective count value for each packet of a plurality of packets transmitted over a wireless connection with a receiving wireless communication device, each count value comprising a respective hyper frame number and a respective sequence number;

determining, by the transmitting wireless communication device, that a signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless connection has dropped below a threshold;

initiating, by the transmitting wireless communication device, a count synchronization of a current count value in response to the signal-to-noise ratio dropping below the threshold, the current count value corresponding to the respective count value of a current packet from among the plurality of packets; and

transmitting at least a current hyper frame number of the current count value from the transmitting wireless communication device to the receiving wireless communication device over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the current packet for transmission over the wireless connection.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value further comprises:

including a full count value in a header of the current packet in response to the initiating the count synchronization, wherein the full count value comprises the current hyper frame number and a current sequence number; and

transmitting the current packet comprising the full count value in the header over the wireless connection.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein transmitting the current packet over the wireless connection further comprises:

including an indication that the current packet comprises the full count value in the current packet.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the header comprises a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) header, a Radio Link Control (RLC) header, or a Media Access Control (MAC) header.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting the current packet over the wireless connection, the current packet comprising a short count value in a header of the current packet, wherein the short count value comprises only a current sequence number.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value further comprises:

transmitting the current hyper frame number and a current sequence number of the current count value over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an out-of-sync flag over the wireless connection in response to transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value;

suspending data transmission and reception over the wireless connection in response to receiving the out-of-sync flag;

transmitting a new hyper frame number over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value; and

resuming data transmission and reception over the wireless connection.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the new hyper frame number exceeds the current hyper frame number.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a hyper frame number synchronization complete indication over the wireless connection prior to resuming data transmission and reception.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting at least the current hyper frame number (HFN) of the current count value over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value further comprises:

transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value within a control message, the control message comprising a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) HFN packet data unit (PDU), a Radio Link Control (RLC) HFN PDU, or a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value within the control message further comprises:

including an integrity protection signature within the PDCP HFN PDU, the RLC HFN PDU or the MAC CE comprising the current hyper frame number.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value within the control message further comprises:

including a control PDU sequence number within the PDCP HFN PDU, the RLC HFN PDU or the MAC CE comprising the current hyper frame number to enable retransmission and ciphering of the control message.

14. An apparatus configured for count synchronization in a wireless communication network, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with a receiving wireless communication device;

a memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the processor configured to:

maintain a respective count value for each packet of a plurality of packets transmitted over a wireless connection with the receiving wireless communication device, each count value comprising a respective hyper frame number and a respective sequence number;

determine that a signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless connection has dropped below a threshold;

initiate a count synchronization of a current count value in response to the signal-to-noise ratio dropping below the threshold, the current count value corresponding to the respective count value of a current packet from among the plurality of packets; and

transmit at least a current hyper frame number of the current count value to the receiving wireless communication device over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive the current packet for transmission over the wireless connection;

include a full count value in a header of the current packet in response to the initiating the count synchronization, wherein the full count value comprises the current hyper frame number and a current sequence number; and

transmit the current packet comprising the full count value in the header over the wireless connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the current hyper frame number and a current sequence number of the current count value over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an out-of-sync flag over the wireless connection in response to transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value;

suspend data transmission and reception over the wireless connection in response to receiving the out-of-sync flag;

transmit a new hyper frame number over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value, wherein the new hyper frame number exceeds the current hyper frame number; and

resume data transmission and reception over the wireless connection.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value within a control message, the control message comprising a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) HFN packet data unit (PDU), a Radio Link Control (RLC) HFN PDU, or a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

include an integrity protection signature within the PDCP HFN PDU, the RLC HFN PDU or the MAC CE comprising the current hyper frame number.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

include a control PDU sequence number within the PDCP HFN PDU, the RLC HFN PDU or the MAC CE comprising the current hyper frame number to enable retransmission and ciphering of the control message.

21. A transmitting wireless communication device configured for count synchronization in a wireless communication network, comprising:

means for maintaining a respective count value for each packet of a plurality of packets transmitted over a wireless connection with a receiving wireless communication device, each count value comprising a respective hyper frame number and a respective sequence number;

means for determining that a signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless connection has dropped below a threshold;

means for transmitting, in response to the signal-to-noise ratio dropping below the threshold, at least a current hyper frame number of a current count value to the receiving wireless communication device over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value, the current count value corresponding to the respective count value of a current packet from among the plurality of packets.

22. The transmitting wireless communication device of claim 21 , further comprising:

means for receiving the current packet for transmission over the wireless connection;

means for including a full count value in a header of the current packet in response to the signal-to-noise ratio dropping below the threshold, wherein the full count value comprises the current hyper frame number and a current sequence number; and

means for transmitting the current packet comprising the full count value in the header over the wireless connection.

23. The transmitting wireless communication device of claim 21 , further comprising:

means for receiving an out-of-sync flag over the wireless connection in response to transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value;

means for suspending data transmission and reception over the wireless connection in response to receiving the out-of-sync flag;

means for transmitting a new hyper frame number over the wireless connection to synchronize the current count value, wherein the new hyper frame number exceeds the current hyper frame number; and

means for resuming data transmission and reception over the wireless connection.

24. The transmitting wireless communication device of claim 21 , further comprising:

means for transmitting at least the current hyper frame number of the current count value within a control message, the control message comprising a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) HFN packet data unit (PDU), a Radio Link Control (RLC) HFN PDU, or a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).