RLC PDU Header Extension Bit and Length Indicator Field Ordering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, particularly in LTE, the existing methods for transmitting and receiving Packet Data Units (PDUs) are inefficient due to the need for complex error correction and scheduling, leading to increased overhead in processing and resource utilization, especially in handling multiple Sequence Number fields and Extension Bits within RLC PDUs.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves repositioning the Length Indicator (LI) field to succeed its associated Extension Bit field in the PDU header, allowing for efficient generation and transmission of PDUs, reducing the need for masking and shifting operations during reception, and optimizing the structure of RLC PDUs to minimize processing overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the Length Indicator (LI) field is repositioned to succeed its associated Extension Bit field in the PDU header, then the processing overhead is reduced and processing speed is improved, but the header structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidheader structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PDU header is segmented into distinct functional fields (Extension Bit field and LI field) that are positioned sequentially. This segmentation allows the receiving device to process each field independently in a predetermined order, reducing the need for complex masking and shifting operations while maintaining structured organization for efficient parsing and interpretation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The Extension Bit field is positioned before the LI field to provide preliminary information about the presence of additional LI fields. This preliminary action allows the receiving device to prepare for subsequent processing by knowing in advance how many LI fields to expect, thereby streamlining the overall header parsing process and reducing computational overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If masking and shifting operations are performed during PDU reception, then the Extension Bit and LI field can be extracted, but the processing time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation extraction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical operations (masking and shifting) with a simpler field-based extraction method. By positioning the LI field to immediately succeed the Extension Bit field in the header structure, the receiving device can directly extract the LI value without performing time-consuming bit manipulation operations, thereby maintaining information extraction accuracy while significantly reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3461032B1Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving packet data unit in mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3461032B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3461032B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3461032B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a PDU including an Extension Bit field and a Length Indicator field in a UE or a Node B. A method for transmitting a PDU generated with more than two SDUs and a header having information on each SDU in a transmitter of a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes generating, in the header, a Length Indicator (LI) indicating an end point of each of remaining SDUs except for the last SDU and an Extension Bit indicating the presence/absence of another LI after each LI, and generating the header so that the LI succeeds the Extension Bit associated therewith; generating the PDU with the generated header and the SDUs; and transmitting the PDU.