IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,628,037
Granted Patent B2
US 12,628,037 · App. 18/256,574 · Granted May 12, 2026

Network coding with packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity

Inventors: Hans Thomas Höhne (Helsinki, FI); Kalle Petteri Kela (Kaarina, FI); Ling Yu (Kauniainen, FI); Ping-Heng Kuo (London, GB); Dawid Koziol (Wroclaw, PL)
Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
H04W28/04H04W80/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,628,037
App. No.
18/256,574
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for network coding are provided. One method may include receiving, at a second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, one or more original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from a first PDCP entity for a radio bearer. The method may also include coding, at the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity, the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to produce one or more network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs).

Claims (147)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a first packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity for a radio bearer, the first packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity configured to carry one or more original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs); and

a second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity for the radio bearer, the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity configured to carry one or more network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs);

wherein the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to

receive one or more original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) from the first PDCP entity for a radio bearer,

code the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to produce one or more network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), and

transmit the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to the first packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to use its own sequence number (SN) space for the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) or is configured to transmit network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) without sequence numbers (SNs).

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when a plurality of coding methods are used to code the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs), the apparatus comprises a separate second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity for each of the coding methods used.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) are prioritized over the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) in scheduling at the medium access control (MAC) layer, or the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) are dropped entirely at the medium access control (MAC) layer.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) carry at least one sequence number (SN1) of an original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU) used to code the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs).

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein another sequence number (SN2) of the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDU) is derived by the following formula:

SN

⁢

2

=

SN

⁢

1

+

const

⁢

1

,

where the sequence numbers SN1 and SN2 are carried in the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) header, and const1 represents a first constant.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to:

link original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) by a formula configured to derive the sequence number (SN) of the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDU) from the sequence number (SN) of the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU), such that the sequence number (SN) for the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) is given by the following linking formula:

SN

⁡

(

1

)

PDCP

⁢

1

=

SN

PDCP

⁢

2

*

n

-

const

⁡

(

1

)

,

SN

⁡

(

2

)

PDCP

⁢

1

=

SN

PDCP

⁢

2

*

n

-

const

⁡

(

2

)

,

…

,

SN

⁡

(

n

)

PDCP

⁢

1

=

SN

PDCP

⁢

2

*

n

-

const

⁡

(

n

)

,

where n is the number of original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) used to create a network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU), and const (n) represents a constant.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to:

when an error is detected in receipt of an original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU), using the sequence number (SN) of the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU) and the linking formula to determine which original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) and network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to use to reconstruct the missing original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU).

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a base station, gNB, user equipment, sidelink user equipment, or vehicle-to-everything device.

10 . An apparatus, comprising:

a data radio bearer (DRB) or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity comprising a transmitting side and a receiving side,

wherein the transmitting side is configured to

buffer original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs); and

code the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to produce network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs),

wherein the data radio bearer (DRB) or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to:

link the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) to network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) by a formula configured to derive the sequence number (SN) of the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU) from the sequence number (SN) of the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU), and

wherein the sequence number (SN) of an original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU) is derived by the following formula:

SN

original

(

1

)

=

SN

coded

-

const

⁡

(

1

)

,

and

⁢

SN

original

(

2

)

=

SN

coded

-

const

⁡

(

2

)

,

where coded sequence numbers (SNs) are those sequence numbers (SNs) for which (SN+const(3)) modulo 3=0.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) are given a sequence number (SN).

12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) are not given a sequence number (SN).

13 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the receiving side of the data radio bearer (DRB) or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to:

demultiplex the original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) and network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs).

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the receiving side of the data radio bearer (DRB) or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity is configured to:

repair original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) and filter out the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs).

15 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs) carry at least one sequence number (SN1) of an original packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data unit (PDU) used to code the network coded packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocol data units (PDUs).

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: KUO, PING-HENG
To: NOKIA UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064177/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: HÖHNE, THOMAS; PETTERI KELA, KALLE; YU, LING
To: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
Reel/Frame 064177/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: KOZIOL, DAWID
To: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS SP. Z.O.O
Reel/Frame 064177/0878 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: NOKIA UK LIMITED
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 064177/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 064177/0896 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS SP. Z.O.O
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 064177/0900 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250024320A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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