Methods, Apparatus and Wireless Device for Transmitting and Receiving Data Blocks

Abstract

A wireless transmitter transmits a plurality of data blocks defined in a transmission window for receipt by a receiver. The transmitter transmits a status request to the receiver for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block. The transmitter updates the transmission window upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a data block or upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a status request relating to a data block. The updating removes the record of the data block from the transmission window and adds a record of at least one different data block to the transmission window.

1 . A method of transmitting data blocks from a transmitter to a receiver, the method comprising:
 a transmitter transmitting a plurality of data blocks, defined in a transmission window maintained by the transmitter, for receipt by a receiver;   the transmitter transmitting a status request to a said receiver for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block; and   the transmitter updating the transmission window upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a data block or upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a status request relating to a data block to remove the record of said data block from the transmission window and to add a record of at least one different data block to the transmission window.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the status request is transmitted if positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the data block identified in the status request has not been received within a predetermined time period from transmission of the data block. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the status request is a status PDU (protocol data unit) having a POLL SUFI (Super Field) constituting the request for positive acknowledgement. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data blocks are AMD (Acknowledged Mode Data) PDUs. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmissions form part of a multi-cell/carrier aggregation transmission. 
     
     
         6 . A method of receiving data blocks transmitted by a transmitter to a receiver, the method comprising:
 a receiver receiving a plurality of transmitted data blocks;   the receiver receiving from a transmitter a status request for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block;   the receiver sending a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a data block upon receipt of said data block; and   the receiver sending a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a status request relating to a data block upon receipt of said status request.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the status request is a status PDU having a POLL SUFI constituting the request for positive acknowledgement. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the positive acknowledgement identifies the corresponding data block by reference to a sequence number of the data block. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the data blocks are AMD PDUs. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the transmissions to the receiver form part of a multi-cell/carrier aggregation transmission. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the receiver monitors for dropped data blocks which are not successfully received and initiates a switch to a different mode of transmission if the number of dropped data blocks occurring in a predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined number. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the receiver considers data blocks that were not successfully received before the switch to the different mode of transmission as lost data blocks and updates state variables maintained by the receiver accordingly. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus comprising:
 a processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing a set of computer instructions, in which the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus at least to perform:   transmission of a plurality of data blocks, defined in a transmission window maintained by the apparatus, for receipt by a receiver;   transmission of a status request to a said receiver for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block; and   updating of the transmission window upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a data block or upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a status request relating to a data block to remove the record of said data block from the transmission window and to add a record of at least one different data block to the transmission window.   
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , configured such that the status request is transmitted if positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the data block identified in the status request has not been received within a predetermined time period from transmission of the data block. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , configured such that the status request is a status PDU having a POLL SUFI constituting the request for positive acknowledgement. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , configured such that the data blocks are AMD PDUs. 
     
     
         17 . A wireless device having apparatus according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus comprising:
 a processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing a set of computer instructions, in which the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus at least to:   be able to receive a plurality of transmitted data blocks;   be able to receive a status request for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block;   send a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a data block upon receipt of said data block; and   send a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a status request relating to a data block upon receipt of said status request.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , configured such that the status request is a status PDU having a POLL SUFI constituting the request for positive acknowledgement. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , configured such that the positive acknowledgement identifies the corresponding data block by reference to a sequence number of the data block. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , configured such that the data blocks are AMD PDUs. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , configured such that the apparatus monitors for dropped data blocks which are not successfully received and initiates a switch to a different mode of transmission if the number of dropped data blocks occurring in a predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined number. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , configured such that the apparatus considers data blocks that were not successfully received before the switch to the different mode of transmission as lost data blocks and updates state variables maintained by the apparatus accordingly. 
     
     
         24 . A wireless device having apparatus according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         25 . A wireless device that is capable of wirelessly transmitting signals to and receiving signals from another wireless device, the device being constructed and arranged such that:
 when transmitting, the device: transmits a plurality of data blocks, defined in a transmission window maintained by the transmitter, for receipt by a said other wireless device; transmits a status request to a said other wireless device for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block; and updates the transmission window upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a data block or upon receipt of a positive acknowledgement of receipt of a status request relating to a data block to remove the record of said data block from the transmission window and to add a record of at least one different data block to the transmission window; and,   when receiving, the device: receives a plurality of transmitted data blocks from a said other wireless device; receives from a said other wireless device a status request for positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of the status request, the status request identifying a data block; sends a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a data block upon receipt of said data block; and sends a positive acknowledgement of successful receipt of a status request relating to a data block upon receipt of said status request.   
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to carry out a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processing system, cause the processing system to carry out a method according to  claim 6 .