Flexible MAC PDU Segmentation for HSUPA Uplink Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing MAC-e/es protocol in wireless communications relies on predefined PDU sizes, leading to overhead issues at higher data rates and limiting the ability to achieve flexible PDU sizes and segmentation, which are necessary for efficient uplink data transmission in HSUPA systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an enhanced MAC-e/es architecture that allows for flexible PDU sizes and segmentation, where MAC SDUs are concatenated into enhanced MAC-es PDUs, and if too large, segmented to fit the available payload, with a segmentation entity storing remaining segments for subsequent transmissions, and prioritizing buffered segments for reassembly, along with the inclusion of a segmentation description in the PDU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If predefined PDU sizes are used in MAC-e/es protocol, then device complexity is reduced and implementation is simplified, but header overhead increases and data transmission efficiency decreases at higher data rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing large MAC SDUs into multiple segments that can be flexibly allocated across multiple enhanced MAC-es PDUs. The segmentation entity divides MAC SDUs into segments based on available payload size, and the PDU structure includes segment identifiers and length indicators to manage reassembly. This enables efficient handling of variable-sized data units without being constrained by fixed PDU sizes, thereby improving data transmission efficiency while managing complexity through structured segmentation mechanisms.
2Productivity
If flexible PDU sizes are implemented in MAC-e/es, then data transmission efficiency improves and header overhead is reduced, but device complexity increases due to segmentation and reassembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing segmentation information including segment identifiers, segment lengths, and total segment counts before transmission. The segmentation entity prepares the segmented structure in advance with all necessary metadata embedded in each PDU header. This preliminary preparation enables efficient reassembly at the receiving end without requiring complex real-time processing, thus achieving flexible PDU sizes and improved transmission efficiency while controlling device complexity through advance preparation.
3Quantity of substance
If MAC SDUs are segmented into multiple enhanced MAC-es PDUs, then larger data volumes can be transmitted efficiently, but the complexity of PDU construction and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional PDU structure that can accommodate both segmented and non-segmented MAC SDUs using the same enhanced MAC-es PDU format. The universal PDU header includes flexible fields that can represent segment identifiers, lengths, and continuity indicators regardless of whether segmentation is applied. This universal structure simplifies PDU construction by using a single template for all data transmission scenarios, enabling efficient transmission of large data volumes while reducing construction complexity through standardized multi-functional handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are provided for generating a protocol data unit (PDU). A method may include transmitting a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) include information associated with one or more logical channels. The MAC PDU to be transmitted may be assembled by determining an amount of information associated with one of the one or more logical channels to be included in the MAC PDU; and multiplexing one or more complete service data units (SDUs) associated with at least the one of the one or more logical channels into the MAC PDU. On a condition that multiplexing an additional SDU associated with the one of the one or more logical channels would exceed the determined amount of information, the one or more complete SDUs may be multiplexed with a segment of the additional SDU associated with the one of the one or more logical channels and a header indicating that the segment is not a last segment of the additional SDU.