Scalable header extension

Abstract

Systems and methods for extending header fields are disclosed. The header field may be extended without changing the current size of the header. Reserve bits may be used to indicate the use of an extended header and the extended header may be store in a variety of locations within the frame, including the frame payload or pad bits.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication device for transmitting at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the communication device comprising:
 a memory configured to store a first extension header;   a message formatter in communication with the memory, the message formatter configured to:   indicate in the header field the presence of the first extension header, and   insert at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet, the payload field and the padding field being separate from the header field.   
     
     
         2 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store a second extension header, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet. 
     
     
         3 . The communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to determine at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field. 
     
     
         4 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the message formatter comprises at least one of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable logic device, discrete gate logic, transistor logic, and discrete hardware components. 
     
     
         5 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet. 
     
     
         6 . The communication device of  claim 5 , wherein the message formatter is further configured to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         7 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field. 
     
     
         8 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits. 
     
     
         9 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         10 . The communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header. 
     
     
         11 . The communication device of  claim 2 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the first packet and a second packet, wherein the second packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, and wherein the first extension header comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the message formatter is further configured to insert the first portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet and the second portion in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the second packet, and wherein the length of the first portion is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first packet. 
     
     
         12 . A communication device for transmitting at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the communication device comprising:
 means for storing a first extension header; and   means for indicating in the header field the presence of the first extension header and inserting at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet, the payload field and the padding field being separate from the header field, wherein the indicating and inserting means is in communication with the storing means.   
     
     
         13 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for storing is further configured to store a second extension header, and wherein the means for indicating is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet. 
     
     
         14 . The communication device of  claim 12 , further comprising means for determining is further configured to determine at least one bit that does not fit in the plurality of bits occupying the header field. 
     
     
         15 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for indicating comprises at least one of a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable logic device, discrete gate logic, transistor logic, and discrete hardware components. 
     
     
         16 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for indicating is further configured to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet. 
     
     
         17 . The communication device of  claim 16 , wherein the means for indicating is further configured to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         18 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field. 
     
     
         19 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits. 
     
     
         20 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         21 . The communication device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for indicating is further configured to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header. 
     
     
         22 . A method of communicating at least a first packet in a wireless communication system, wherein the first packet comprises a header field, a payload field, and a padding field, the method comprising:
 storing a first extension header; and   indicating in the header field of the first packet the presence of the first extension header and inserting at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet, the payload field and the padding field being separate from the header field.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising storing a second extension header, and wherein the means for indicating is further configured to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising determining at least one bit that does not fit in a plurality of bits occupying the header field. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising modifying a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising inserting the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header. 
     
     
         31 . A computer readable product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 store a first extension header of a first packet comprising a header field, a payload field, and a padding field; and 
 indicate in the header field of the first packet the presence of the first extension header and insert at least one portion of the first extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet, the payload field and the padding field being separate from the header field. 
   
     
     
         32 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, further cause the computer to store a second extension header, and to indicate in a field of the first extension header the presence of the second extension header, and to insert at least one portion of the second extension header in at least one of the payload field and the padding field of the first packet. 
     
     
         33 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, further cause the computer to determine at least one bit that does not fit in a plurality of bits occupying the header field. 
     
     
         34 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, further cause the computer to insert the at least one portion of the first extension header in a beginning portion of the payload field of the first packet. 
     
     
         35 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, further cause the computer to modify a length field of the header field of the first packet based on, at least in part, the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         36 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a content field. 
     
     
         37 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header inserted comprises a frame check sequence and tail bits. 
     
     
         38 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one portion of the first extension header comprises a length field indicating the length of the at least one portion of the first extension header. 
     
     
         39 . The computer readable product of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, further cause the computer to insert the first extension header in the padding field of the first packet if the length of the first extension header is less than or equal to the length of the padding field of the first extension header.