System and method for transmitting a sequence of data blocks

Abstract

A system and method for avoiding stall of an H-ARQ reordering buffer in a receiver uses a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) policy for loading the transmitting H-ARQ processors. The LIFO loading policy increases the probability that the receiver will be able to determine at an earlier time whether the missed sequence is due to delay in retransmission or due to the release of a transmission by reading the new H-ARQ processor identifier.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for transmitting a sequence of data blocks from a transmitter to a receiver, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of transmit processors for transmitting the sequence of data blocks, each data block including an identification of the transmit processor that transmits the data block;    a scheduler for assigning each data block to the transmit processor that is released most recently from transmission;    a plurality of receive processors for receiving the transmitted data blocks; and    a reordering processor for reordering the received data blocks into the sequence;    whereby an error in transmission of a data block is detected using said identification.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a receive processor transmits an acknowledgement when a data block is received without error, thereby releasing the corresponding transmit processor for transmission of the next data block.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a sequence number of the data block is transmitted to the receive processor.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said error is detected when a sequence number is missing.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said identification is a tag attached to the data block.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said identification is transmitted separately from the data block.  
     
     
         7 . A method for transmitting a sequence of data blocks from a transmitter to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of: 
 assigning a data block to a transmit processor that is released most recently from transmission;    transmitting the data block by the assigned transmit processor with an identification of the transmit processor that transmits the data block;    receiving the transmitted data block by a receive processor;    reordering the received data blocks into the sequence; and,    detecting an error in transmission of a data block using said identification.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of assigning a sequence number to each data block.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said error is detected when a sequence number is missing.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of sending an acknowledgement to a transmit processor when the receive processor receives a data block without error, whereby the corresponding transmit processor is released for transmission of the next data block.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said identification is transmitted separately from said data block.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said identification is a tag attached to the data block.