Apparatus and method for transmitting data blocks based on priority

1. A method of processing data packets for a radio communications system employing a protocol stack with protocol layers therein, the method comprising:

receiving, by a radio link control (RLC) layer, data packets from a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, each data packet having priority information related thereto generated by and sent from the PDCP layer, wherein the priority information indicates whether the corresponding data packet includes a full header or a compressed header, wherein a data packet including a full header has higher priority than a data packet including a compressed header;

processing, by the RLC layer, the received data packets by using the priority information; and

transferring, by the RLC layer, the processed data packets to a first lower layer according to the priority information,

wherein the data packets include protocol data units (PDUs) generated by way of the PDCP layer receiving service data units (SDUs) from an upper layer, performing header compression thereto to generate protocol data units (PDUs), and transferring to the RLC each generated protocol data unit (PDU) together with its priority information,

wherein the transferring is performed by:

transmitting the data packets repetitively and randomly according to their priorities,

transmitting the data packets using respectively different radio channels according to their priorities,

transmitting the data packets using respectively different radio transmission techniques for each radio channel according to their priorities, and

transmitting the data packets via respectively different logical channels such that each logical channel is used to transfer data packets of a certain priority, wherein a total number of logical channels equals a total number of different priorities.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packets are received in service data units and transferred in protocol data units.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first lower layer is a medium access control (MAC) layer.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the first lower layer, the processed data packets having different priorities via at least one data flow; and

transferring the received data packets to a second lower layer according to their respective priorities via respectively different logical channels.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a total number of data flows received from the first lower layer equals a total number of different priorities.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second lower layer is a physical (PHY) layer.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving the data packets from the first lower layer via at least one data flow; and

transmitting the received data packets to a receiver by using different transmission power levels corresponding to the priorities.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein data packets of relatively higher priority are transmitted by using a relatively higher transmission power.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the steps are performed in order to guarantee respectively different qualities of service requirements.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the receiver is a mobile station, a user equipment, or other communications terminal.

11. A radio communications system comprising:

a protocol layer adapted to perform the steps of,

receiving, by a radio link control (RLC) layer, data packets from a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, each data packet having priority information related thereto generated by and sent from the PDCP layer, wherein the priority information indicates whether the corresponding data packet includes a full header or a compressed header, wherein a data packet including a full header has higher priority than a data packet including a compressed header;

processing, by the RLC layer, the received data packets by using the priority information; and

transferring, by the RLC layer, the processed data packets to a first lower layer according to the priority information,

wherein the transferring is performed by transmitting the data packets repetitively and randomly according to their priorities, transmitting the data packets using respectively different radio channels according to their priorities, transmitting the data packets using respectively different radio transmission techniques for each radio channel according to their priorities, and transmitting the data packets via respectively different logical channels such that each logical channel is used to transfer data packets of a certain priority, wherein a total number of logical channels equals a total number of different priorities.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the data packets are received in service data units and transferred in protocol data units.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the PDCP layer receives and performs header compression on service data units (SDUs), to generate protocol data units (PDUs), and transfers each generated PDUs together with its priority information.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first lower layer is a medium access control (MAC) layer.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first lower layer is adapted to perform the steps of; receiving the processed data packets having different priorities via at least one data flow; and transferring the received data packets to a second lower layer according to their respective priorities via respectively different logical channels.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a total number of data flows received from the first lower layer equals a total number of different priorities.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second lower layer is a physical (PHY) layer.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the second lower layer is adapted to perform the steps of: receiving the data packets from the first lower layer via at least one data flow; and transmitting the received data packets to a receiver by using different transmission power levels corresponding to the priorities.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein data packets of relatively higher priority are transmitted by using a relatively higher transmission power.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the steps are performed in order to guarantee respectively different qualities of service requirements.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the receiver is a mobile station, a user equipment, or other communications terminal.