Methods and apparatus for implementing a protocol format capable of handling shared and dedicated radio resources

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed that implement a protocol format capable of handling shared and dedicated resources. A combined dedicated/shared protocol is used to enable dedicated data to be transmitted over shared wireless networks. In particular, the protocol is a combined DLC/MAC protocol. Header information for L 2 headers are modified so that a receiving MAC will appropriately route and interpret the data. The data will be routed to the portion of the network supporting dedicated resources (e.g., DLC) if the header information is a predetermined value. Otherwise, the data is routed to the portion of the network supporting shared resources (e.g., RLC/MAC). The protocol of the present invention does not interfere with existing transceivers.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for handling shared and dedicated radio resources, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a value of a field in a header in a packet;    when the value of the field is a predetermined value, interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources; and    when the value of the field is at least one second predetermined value, interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field comprises two bits, wherein the predetermined value is 11, and wherein the at least one second predetermined value comprises three values of 00, 01, and 10.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protocol for dedicated radio resources is defined by Technical Standard 04.06 of the Global System of Mobil Communication (GSM) group, and wherein the protocol for shared radio resources is defined by TS 04.60 of the GSM group.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources further comprises the step of routing the packet to a device adapted to implement the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources, and wherein the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources further comprises the step of routing the packet to a device adapted to implement the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field comprises three bits, wherein the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources further comprises the step of (a) setting the field to a value of 000 prior to interpreting all of the header of the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources, and wherein the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources further comprises the step of interpreting all of the header of the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the header is the first octet of a data link layer packet, and wherein the packet is a Packet Data Unit (PDU).  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 setting the field to a first value;    setting the field to a second value; and    transmitting the PDU.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the field comprises three bits;    the method further comprises the step of receiving the PDU;    the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated resources further comprises the step of setting the three bits to 000 prior to interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated resources; and    the step of interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared resources further comprises the step of leaving the three bits when interpreting the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated resources.    
     
     
         9 . A method for handling shared and dedicated radio resources, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a value of a field in a header in a packet;    when the value of the field is a predetermined value, routing the packet to a device adapted to control dedicated radio resources; and    when the value of the field is at least one second predetermined value, routing the packet to a device adapted to control shared radio resources.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a memory that stores computer-readable code;    a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to implement the computer-readable code, the computer-readable code configured to: 
 determine a value of a field in a header in a packet;  
 when the value of the field is a predetermined value, interpret the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources; and  
 when the value of the field is at least one second predetermined value, interpret the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources.  
   
     
     
         11 . An article of manufacture comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium having computer-readable code means embodied thereon, the computer-readable code means comprising: 
 a step to determine a value of a field in a header in a packet;  
 when the value of the field is a predetermined value, a step to interpret the packet in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources; and  
 when the value of the field is at least one second predetermined value, a step to interpret the packet in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources.  
   
     
     
         12 . A transmitter comprising: 
 a first device adapted to set a field of a header of a packet to a first value;    a second device adapted to set the field of the header to a second value, wherein a predetermined value of the field indicates that the packet is to be interpreted in accordance with a protocol for dedicated radio resources and at least one additional value of the field indicates that the packet is to be interpreted in accordance with a protocol for shared radio resources; and    a third device adapted to transmit the packet.    
     
     
         13 . The transmitter of  claim 12 , wherein the first device is a data link controller, the second device is a media access controller, and the third device is a physical layer.  
     
     
         14 . The transmitter of  claim 13 , wherein the data link controller is part of a radio link controller, wherein the data link controller is adapted to control dedicated radio resources, and wherein the radio link controller is adapted to control shared radio resources.  
     
     
         15 . A receiver comprising: 
 a first device adapted to control dedicated radio resources;    a second device adapted to control shared radio resources;    a third device adapted to determine a value of a field in a header in a packet, the third device routing the packet to the first device when the value of the field is a predetermined value and routing the packet to the second device when the value of the field is at least one second predetermined value.    
     
     
         16 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver is coupled to physical radio resources on a cell level in a wireless network and to multiple users, wherein data from only one user is allowed per a dedicated radio resource of the physical radio resources, and wherein data from a plurality of the users is allowed per a shared radio resource of the physical radio resources.  
     
     
         17 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the first device is a data link controller, wherein the second device is a radio link controller, and wherein the third device is a media access controller.  
     
     
         18 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the field comprises three bits; and    the third device is adapted to set the three bits to 000 prior to routing the packet to the first device, and is adapted to leave the three bits unchanged when routing the packet to the second device.