Method and apparatus for reliable data transmission and reception in data communication

Abstract

This invention relates to techniques for timing control in transmission or reception of data units in data communication. To better use the resources in a transceiver, a timing parameter is repeatedly initiated and reassigned. Depending on how the data units being handled, the timing parameter can be used to control a transceiver to retry transmission of data units or purge data units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reliable data transmission and reception in digital communication, the method comprising:
 processing data units sequentially, wherein each of the data units includes a processing index to facilitate the data units to be processed sequentially;   processing a data unit at a time until one of pre-defined conditions is met, wherein the pre-defined conditions include that a timing parameter assigned to the data unit is timed out or an acknowledgement of the data unit is received, wherein said processing a data unit includes:
 starting the timing parameter again until a total number of retries to transmit the data unit exceeds a pre-determined value, wherein the timing parameter times out during transmission of the data unit; and 
 retransmitting the data unit every time the timing parameter is started, wherein said retransmitting the data unit ends when the timing parameter reaches a life timeout value for the data unit.