Patent ID: 6134237
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for tracking data packets in a packet data communication system, the method comprising the steps of:transmitting, by a first communication device, a data packet to a second communication device;increasing, by the first communication device responsive to the step of transmitting, a transmit tracking number, wherein the transmit tracking number indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be transmitted;receiving, by the second communication device, the data packet transmitted by the first communication device;transmitting, by the second communication device, an acknowledgment data packet to the first communication device, wherein the acknowledgment data packet includes a receive tracking number that indicates a packet sequence number of a data packet that is next in sequence to be received;receiving, by the first communication device, the acknowledgment data packet;comparing, by the first communication device, the receive tracking number and the transmit tracking number; andwhen the receive tracking number is greater than the transmit tracking number, determining that a communication error occurred.