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Timestamp: 2015-11-30 15:14:21
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Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

Patent US20050135291 - Method, apparatus, and system for multiplexing protocol data units - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsEmbodiments addressing MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a protocol stack is disclosed comprising one or more of the following: an adaptation layer, a data link control layer, a physical layer, and a layer manager. In another aspect, physical layer...http://www.google.com/patents/US20050135291?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20050135291 - Method, apparatus, and system for multiplexing protocol data unitsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20050135291 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/964,320Publication dateJun 23, 2005Filing dateOct 13, 2004Priority dateOct 15, 2003Also published asCN1894900A, CN1894900B, EP1680892A1, EP1680892B1, EP2528281A1, EP2528281B1, US8462817, US8774098, US20120287856, WO2005039119A1Publication number10964320, 964320, US 2005/0135291 A1, US 2005/135291 A1, US 20050135291 A1, US 20050135291A1, US 2005135291 A1, US 2005135291A1, US-A1-20050135291, US-A1-2005135291, US2005/0135291A1, US2005/135291A1, US20050135291 A1, US20050135291A1, US2005135291 A1, US2005135291A1InventorsJohn Ketchum, Jay Walton, Sanjiv NandaOriginal AssigneeQualcomm IncorporatedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (99), Referenced by (116), Classifications (14), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod, apparatus, and system for multiplexing protocol data units
US 20050135291 A1Abstract
Embodiments addressing MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a protocol stack is disclosed comprising one or more of the following: an adaptation layer, a data link control layer, a physical layer, and a layer manager. In another aspect, physical layer feedback is used for adaptation layer processing. In one embodiment, physical layer feedback is used for segmentation. In another embodiment, physical layer feedback is used for multicast mapping onto one or more unicast channels. In another aspect, a data unit for transmission from a first station to a second station comprises zero or more complete sub-data units, zero or one partial sub-data units from a prior transmission, and zero or one partial sub-data units to fill the data unit. In one embodiment, a pointer may be used to indicate the location of any complete sub-data units. Images(26) Claims(41)
1. A data unit for transmission from a first station to a second station comprising: a pointer set to one of a range of pointer values, the pointer value identifying the location within the data unit of a first full sub-data unit; zero or one first partial sub-data unit; zero or more full sub-data units, the first full sub-data unit, if any, located within the data unit in accordance with the pointer; and zero or one second partial sub-data unit. 2. The data unit of claim 1, wherein one pointer value indicates no sub-data units are included in the data unit. 3. The data unit of claim 1, wherein one pointer value indicates no partial sub-data units are included in the data unit. 4. The data unit of claim 1, wherein the sub-data units are multiplex sublayer Protocol Data Units (PDUs). 5. The data unit of claim 1, wherein a first sub-data unit comprises a portion of data from a first data flow and a second sub-data unit comprises a portion of data from a second data flow. 6. An apparatus comprising: a control processor for forming a data unit comprising: a pointer set to one of a range of pointer values, the pointer value identifying the location within the data unit of a first full sub-data unit; zero or one first partial sub-data unit; zero or more full sub-data units, the first full sub-data unit, if any, located within the data unit in accordance with the pointer; and zero or one second partial sub-data unit; and a transmitter for transmitting the data unit to a remote station. 7. An apparatus comprising: a receiver for receiving a data unit comprising: a pointer set to one of a range of pointer values, the pointer value identifying the location within the data unit of a first full sub-data unit; zero or one first partial sub-data unit; zero or more full sub-data units, the first full sub-data unit, if any, located within the data unit in accordance with the pointer; and zero or one second partial sub-data unit; and a control processor for: extracting one or more full sub-data units from the data unit at the location identified by the pointer value, when present; extracting the first partial sub-data unit from a pre-determined location in the data unit, when present; and extracting the second partial sub-data unit, when present. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control processor further combines the extracted first partial sub-data unit with a stored partial sub-data unit to form a full sub-data unit. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control processor further stores the extracted second partial sub-data unit for combination with a subsequently received partial sub-data unit. 10. A wireless communication system comprising: a control processor for forming a data unit comprising: a pointer set to one of a range of pointer values, the pointer value identifying the location within the data unit of a first full sub-data unit; zero or one first partial sub-data unit; zero or more full sub-data units, the first full sub-data unit, if any, located within the data unit in accordance with the pointer; and zero or one second partial sub-data unit; and a transmitter for transmitting the data unit to a remote station. 11. A method for media access control comprising: inserting a pointer into a data unit; and inserting zero or more full sub-data units into the data unit, the first sub-data unit, if any, inserted at a location in accordance with the pointer. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting a partial sub-data unit in the data unit prior to any full sub-data units in the data unit. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the partial sub-data unit is the remainder of a sub-data unit, a portion of the sub-data unit previously inserted in a prior data unit. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising appending a partial sub-data unit to one or more full sub-data units inserted in the data unit. 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the data unit from a first station to a second station. 16. A method for media access control comprising: receiving a data unit comprising a pointer, zero or more full sub-data units, and zero or one partial sub-data unit; extracting one or more full sub-data units, when present, from the data unit at a location identified by the pointer; and extracting the partial sub-data unit, when present, from the data unit at a pre-determined location in the data unit. 17. An apparatus comprising: means for inserting a pointer into a data unit; and means for inserting zero or more full sub-data units into the data unit, the first sub-data unit, if any, inserted at a location in accordance with the pointer. 18. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a data unit comprising a pointer, zero or more full sub-data units, and zero or one partial sub-data unit; means for extracting one or more full sub-data units, when present, from the data unit at a location identified by the pointer; and means for extracting the partial sub-data unit, when present, from the data unit at a pre-determined location in the data unit. 19. A wireless communication system comprising: means for inserting a pointer into a data unit; and means for inserting zero or more full sub-data units into the data unit, the first sub-data unit, if any, inserted at a location in accordance with the pointer. 20. Computer readable media operable to perform the following steps: inserting a pointer into a data unit; and inserting zero or more full sub-data units into the data unit, the first sub-data unit, if any, inserted at a location in accordance with the pointer. 21. Computer readable media operable to perform the following steps: receiving a data unit comprising a pointer, zero or more full sub-data units, and zero or one partial sub-data unit; extracting one or more full sub-data units, when present, from the data unit at a location identified by the pointer; and extracting the partial sub-data unit, when present, from the data unit at a pre-determined location in the data unit. 22. A data unit for transmission from a first station to a second station comprising: two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows. 23. The data unit of claim 22, further comprising: a pointer set to one of a range of pointer values, the pointer value identifying the location within the data unit of a the first sub-data unit; zero or one first partial sub-data unit; and zero or one second partial sub-data unit. 24. An apparatus comprising: a control processor for forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows; and a transmitter for transmitting the data unit to a remote station. 25. An apparatus comprising: a receiver for receiving a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows; and a control processor for: extracting the first sub-data unit and delivering the first sub-data unit to the source of the first data flow; and extracting the second sub-data unit and delivering the second sub-data unit to the source of the second data flow. 26. A wireless communication system comprising: a control processor for forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows; and a transmitter for transmitting the data unit to a remote station. 27. A method for media access control comprising: receiving a plurality of data flows, each data flow comprising one or more packets; and forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising storing packets from the plurality of data flows in one or more queues. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the packets are stored in two or more queues according to classification of their respective data flows. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein packets from a first subset of the plurality of data flows are stored in a first queue, and packets from the remaining subset of the plurality of data flows are stored in a second queue. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first subset of the plurality of data flows are selected according to a first Quality of Service (QoS) level and the remaining subset of the plurality of data flows are selected according to a second QoS level. 32. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more packets from the plurality of data flows are segmented. 33. The method of claim 27, wherein one or more packets from the plurality of data flows are identified with a logical link classification. 34. The method of claim 28, further comprising selecting packets or portions thereof from the one or more queues for inclusion in the data unit with a mux function. 35. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting the data unit to a remote station. 36. A method for media access control comprising: receiving a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units; delivering a first of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a first data flow; and delivering a second of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a second data flow. 37. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a plurality of data flows, each data flow comprising one or more packets; and means for forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows. 38. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units; means for delivering a first of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a first data flow; and means for delivering a second of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a second data flow. 39. A wireless communication system comprising: means for receiving a plurality of data flows, each data flow comprising one or more packets; and means for forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows. 40. Computer readable media operable to perform the following steps: receiving a plurality of data flows, each data flow comprising one or more packets; and forming a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units, a first of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a first data flow of the plurality of data flows, and a second of the two or more sub-data units comprising all or part of a packet from a second data flow of the plurality of data flows. 41. Computer readable media operable to perform the following steps: receiving a data unit comprising two or more sub-data units; delivering a first of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a first data flow; and delivering a second of the two or more sub-data units to the source of a second data flow. Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. �119 [0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: Provisional Application No. 60/511,750 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Providing Interoperability and Backward Compatibility in Wireless Communication Systems” filed Oct. 15, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/511,904 entitled “Method, Apparatus, and System for Medium Access Control in a High Performance Wireless LAN Environment” filed Oct. 15, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/513,239 entitled “Peer-to-Peer Connections in MIMO WLAN System” filed Oct. 21, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/526,347 entitled “Method, Apparatus, and System for Sub-Network Protocol Stack for Very High Speed Wireless LAN” filed Dec. 1, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/526,356 entitled “Method, Apparatus, and System for Multiplexing Protocol data Units in a High Performance Wireless LAN Environment” filed Dec. 1, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/532,791 entitled “Wireless Communications Medium Access Control (MAC) Enhancements” filed Dec. 23, 2003; Provisional Application No. 60/545,963 entitled “Adaptive Coordination Function (ACF)” filed Feb. 18, 2004; Provisional Application No. 60/576,545 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Robust Wireless Network” filed Jun. 2, 2004; Provisional Application No. 60/586,841 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Distribution Communication Resources Among Multiple Users” filed Jul. 8, 2004; and Provisional Application No. 60/600,960 entitled “Method, Apparatus, and System for Wireless Communications” filed Aug. 11, 2004; all assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT [0012] The present Application for Patent is related to the following co-pending U.S. Patent Applications: “Wireless LAN Protocol Stack” by Ketchum et al., having Attorney Docket No. 030428, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein; and “Method, Apparatus, and System for Medium Access Control” by Ketchum et al., having Attorney Docket No. 030433, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein; and “High Speed Media Access Control with Legacy System Interoperability” by Walton et al., having Attorney Docket No. 040001, filed concurrently herewith, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND [0016] 1. Field [0017] The present invention relates generally to communications, and more specifically to a wireless LAN protocol stack. [0018] 2. Background [0019] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication such as voice and data. A typical wireless data system, or network, provides multiple users access to one or more shared resources. A system may use a variety of multiple access techniques such as Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), and others. [0020] Example wireless networks include cellular-based data systems. The following are several such examples: (1) the “TIA/EIA-95-B Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System” (the IS-95 standard), (2) the standard offered by a consortium named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP) and embodied in a set of documents including Document Nos. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214 (the W-CDMA standard), (3) the standard offered by a consortium named “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2) and embodied in “TR-45.5 Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems” (the IS-2000 standard), and (4) the high data rate (HDR) system that conforms to the TIA/EIA/1S-856 standard (the IS-856 standard). [0021] Other examples of wireless systems include Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) such as the IEEE 802.11 standards (i.e. 802.11 (a), (b), or (g)). Improvements over these networks may be achieved in deploying a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) WLAN comprising Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation techniques. [0022] As wireless system designs have advanced, higher data rates have become available. Higher data rates have opened up the possibility of advanced applications, among which are voice, video, fast data transfer, and various other applications. However, various applications may have differing requirements for their respective data transfer. Many types of data may have latency and throughput requirements, or need some Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. Without resource management, the capacity of a system may be reduced, and the system may not operate efficiently. [0023] Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols are commonly used to allocate a shared communication resource between a number of users. MAC protocols commonly interface higher layers to the physical layer used to transmit and receive data. To benefit from an increase in data rates, a MAC protocol must be designed to utilize the shared resource efficiently. [0024] The high performance systems being developed support multiple rates, which may vary widely based on physical link characteristics. Given the varying demands of different data application types, and the large variance of supportable data rates to different user terminals located within a system, advances in how to queue the various traffic types and how to transmit them on the often disparate various physical links need to be developed as well. There is therefore a need in the art for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems.