Patent ID: 7643419

Claim:
A method for supporting enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) data transmissions, the method comprising: receiving an E-DCH data block to be transmitted from a higher layer; storing the E-DCH data block in a buffer; activating a data lifespan timer for the E-DCH data block; assigning the E-DCH data block to a hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process; determining whether physical resources have been allocated for transmission of the E-DCH data block on a condition that a lifespan established by the data lifespan timer is within a configured range to expiration; sending an urgent channel allocation request on a condition that the physical resources have not been allocated and the lifespan established by the data lifespan timer is within the configured range to expiration, and prioritizing the E-DCH data block for transmission on a condition that the physical resources have been allocated and the lifespan established by the data lifespan timer is within the configured range to expiration; and discarding the E-DCH data block and releasing the H-ARQ process on a condition that the data lifespan timer expires.