Network processing node and method for manipulating packets

Abstract

A network processing node (e.g., MGW, MRFP) and method are described herein that can: (1) receive packets on a first heterogeneous link (e.g., wireless link); (2) manipulate the received packets based on known characteristics about a second heterogeneous link (e.g., “Internet” link); and (3) send the manipulated packets on the second heterogeneous link (e.g., “Internet”-link). For example, the network processing node can manipulate the received packets by adding redundancy, removing redundancy, frame aggregating (re-packetizing), recovering lost packets and/or re-transmitting packets.

1 . A network processing node, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory; and    instructions accessible from said memory and processable by said processor, wherein said instructions are configured for enabling said processor to facilitate: 
 receiving a plurality of packets on a first link;  
 manipulating the received packets based on known characteristics about a second link; and  
 sending the manipulated packets on the second link, wherein the first link and the second link have different channel characteristics.  
   
   
   
       2 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor obtains feedback information about the second link which is used to update the known characteristics of the second link.  
   
   
       3 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by: 
 adding redundancy;    removing redundancy;    frame aggregating/re-packetizing;    recovering lost packets; and/or    re-transmitting packets.    
   
   
       4 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by adding redundancy wherein all or a selected portion of data from one of the received packet(s) is added to one of the packets that is going to be sent on the second link.  
   
   
       5 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by removing redundancy wherein all or a selected portion of redundant data is removed from the received packets.  
   
   
       6 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by re-packetizing the received packets.  
   
   
       7 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by recovering lost packets wherein a missing packet is recovered by using data from one or more of the received packets.  
   
   
       8 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said processor manipulates the received packets by re-transmitting received packet(s) wherein if a packet is lost then the received packet(s) that contain data which was in the lost packet are sent more than once on the second heterogenous link.  
   
   
       9 . The network processing node of  claim 1 , wherein said first link and said second link further include: 
 a wireless link and wireless link with different characteristics;    a wireline link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a wireless link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a WCDMA DCH link and WCDMA HSPA link;    a GPRS link and EGPRS link;    a EGPRS link and LAN link    a WCDMA DCH link and LAN link;    a HSPA link and ADSL link;    a EGPRS link and WLAN link;    a wireless link and Internet link;    a wireline link and Internet link; or    a HSPA link and wireline LAN link.    
   
   
       10 . A method for manipulating packets within a network processing node, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a plurality of packets on a first link;    manipulating the received packets based on known characteristics about a second link; and    sending the manipulated packets on the second link, wherein the first link and the second link have different channel characteristics.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of receiving feedback information about the second link which is used to update the known characteristics of the second link.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes one or more of the following steps: 
 an adding redundancy step;    a removing redundancy step;    a frame aggregating/re-packetizing step;    a recovering lost packets step; and    a re-transmitting packets step.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes an adding redundancy step in which all or a selected portion of data from one of the received packet(s) is added to one of the packets that is going to be sent on the second link.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes a removing redundancy step in which all or a portion of redundant data is removed from the received packets.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes a frame aggregating step in which the received packets are re-packetized before being sent on the second link.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes an recovering lost packets step in which a missing packet is recovered by using data from one or more previously received packets.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said manipulating step further includes a re-transmitting step in which if a packet is lost then the received packet(s) that contain data which was in the lost packet are sent more than once on the second heterogeneous link.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first link and said second link further include: 
 a wireless link and wireless link with different characteristics:    a wireline link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a wireless link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a WCDMA DCH link and WCDMA HSPA link;    a GPRS link and EGPRS link;    a EGPRS link and LAN link    a WCDMA DCH link and LAN link;    a HSPA link and ADSL link;    a EGPRS link and WLAN link;    a wireless link and Internet link;    a wireline link and Internet link; or    a HSPA link and wireline LAN link.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said network processing node further includes: 
 a media gateway node; or    a multimedia resource function processor.    
   
   
       20 . A multimedia resource function processor (MRFP), comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory; and    instructions accessible from said memory and processable by said processor, wherein said instructions are configured for enabling said processor to facilitate: 
 receiving higher protocol layer packets on a first link;  
 manipulating the received higher protocol layer packets based on known characteristics about a second link; and  
 sending the manipulated higher protocol layer packets on the second link, wherein the first link and the second link have different channel characteristics.  
   
   
   
       21 . The MRFP of  claim 20 , wherein said processor manipulates the received higher protocol layer packets by adding redundancy to their RTP payload.  
   
   
       22 . The MRFP of  claim 20 , wherein said processor manipulates the received higher protocol layer packets by: 
 adding redundancy;    removing redundancy;    frame aggregating/re-packetizing;    recovering lost packets; and/or    re-transmitting packets.    
   
   
       23 . The MRFP of  claim 20 , wherein said processor manipulates the received higher protocol layer packets by adding or removing redundancy within a higher protocol layer.  
   
   
       24 . The MRFP of  claim 20 , wherein said first link and said second link further include: 
 a wireless link and wireless link with different characteristics:    a wireline link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a wireless link and wireline link with different characteristics;    a WCDMA DCH link and WCDMA HSPA link;    a GPRS link and EGPRS link:    a EGPRS link and LAN link    a WCDMA DCH link and LAN link,    a HSPA link and ADSL link;    a EGPRS link and WLAN link;    a wireless link and Internet link;    a wireline link and Internet link; or    a HSPA link and wireline LAN link.