Method And Apparatus For Improved Data Communication In Cellular Access Systems

Abstract

A method for use in a cellular access system is disclosed. The system includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver sends and receives data blocks to and from the second transceiver, and the first transceiver is considered a reporting party with respect to the second transceiver. The method involves sending a transmission comprising a report to the second transceiver, said report comprising information on whether or not data blocks have been received successfully, wherein said report is sent together with data to the second transceiver. The contents of the report are decided using a priority rule according to which an oldest data block which has been detected as received in error, and whose status has not been reported since the error was detected, is given priority.

1 . A method in a first transceiver for use in a cellular access system, wherein the first transceiver sends and receives data blocks to and from a second transceiver in the cellular access system, the first transceiver being a reporting party with respect to the second transceiver, the method comprising:
 sending a transmission comprising a report to the second transceiver, said report comprising information on whether or not data blocks have been received successfully, wherein said report is sent together with data to the second transceiver;   deciding contents of the report using a priority rule according to which an oldest data block which has been detected as received in error, and whose status has not been reported since the error was detected, is given priority.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , according to which, when the first transceiver is comprised in a user equipment (UE), the report is triggered by a request from the second transceiver being comprised in a radio base station (RBS). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , according to which, when there has been a poll from the RBS to the UE, priority is given by the UE to data blocks which have been identified as belonging to a group of data blocks which the poll referred to. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , according to which priority is given to data blocks in said group which have the lowest sequence number. 
     
     
         5 . The method  claim 1 , according to which, the number of data blocks covered by the report is such that all data blocks which are covered by the priority rule are included in the report. 
     
     
         6 . The method  claim 1 , according to which the report comprises a header which indicates the size of the report. 
     
     
         7 . A user equipment for use in a cellular access system, the user equipment configured for sending and for receiving data blocks to and from a radio base station in the cellular access system, the user equipment being a reporting party with respect to the radio base station, the user equipment comprising:
 a transceiver configured to send a transmission comprising a report, to the radio base station, said report comprising information on whether or not data blocks have been received successfully at the user equipment;   the transceiver further configured to send said report together with data to the radio base station; and   a processor configured to determine the contents of the report using a priority rule according to which an oldest data block which has been detected as received in error, and whose status has not been reported since the error was detected, is given priority.   
     
     
         8 . The user equipment of  claim 7 , wherein the user equipment is configured to send the report upon being triggered by a request from the radio base station. 
     
     
         9 . The user equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the user equipment is configured to give, when there has been a poll from the radio base station, priority to data blocks which have been identified as belonging to a group of data blocks which the poll referred to. 
     
     
         10 . The user equipment of  claim 7 , wherein all data blocks which are covered by the priority rule are included in the report. 
     
     
         11 . The user equipment of  claim 7 , wherein the report comprises a header which indicates the size of the report. 
     
     
         12 . A method in a second transceiver for use in a cellular access system, the second transceiver configured for sending and receiving data blocks to and from a first transceiver in the system, the method comprising:
 receiving a transmission comprising a report, from the first transceiver, said report comprising information on whether or not data blocks have been received successfully at the first transceiver; and   receiving said report together with data from the first transceiver;   wherein contents of the report are based on using a priority rule according to which an oldest data block which has been detected as received in error, and whose status has not been reported since the error was detected, is given priority.   
     
     
         13 . A second transceiver for use in a cellular access system, the second transceiver configured for sending and for receiving data blocks to and from a first transceiver in the system, the second transceiver comprising:
 a processor configured to control the second transceiver;   the second transceiver being configured to receive a transmission comprising a report, from the first transceiver, said report comprising information on whether or not data blocks have been received successfully at the first transceiver;   the second transceiver being further configured to receive said report together with data from the first transceiver;   wherein the contents of the report are based on using a priority rule according to which an oldest data block which has been detected as received in error, and whose status has not been reported since the error was detected, is given priority.   
     
     
         14 . A second transceiver according to  claim 13 , being comprised in radio base station.