Using a variable timer for sending an error indication

摘要

Upon receiving a particular data unit by a receiving layer of a wireless device, it is detected that a previous data unit earlier in sequence to the particular data unit has not yet been received by the receiving layer. A timer is started in response to the detecting, where the timer has a time-out period that is variable dependent upon a parameter associated with receipt of the particular data unit. Upon expiration of the timer based on the timeout period, the receiving layer generates an error indication.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a receiving layer of a wireless device, a first particular data unit; detecting, by the receiving layer, that a first previous data unit earlier in sequence to the first particular data unit has not yet been received by the receiving layer; starting a first timer in response to the detecting, wherein the first timer has a first timeout period that is variable dependent upon a parameter associated with receipt of the first particular data unit, wherein the first timeout period is based on of a number of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes supported by a medium access control (MAC) layer of the wireless device; receiving, at the receiving layer, a second particular data unit subsequent to said starting the timer; detecting, by the receiving layer, that a second previous data unit earlier in sequence to the second particular data unit and later in sequence to the first particular data unit has not yet been received by the receiving layer; determining a first time remaining in the first timeout period when the second particular data unit was received; starting a second timer in response to one of receiving the first pervious data unit and expiration of the first timeout period, wherein the second timer has a second timeout period, wherein the second timeout period is based on the number of HARQ processes supported by the MAC layer and an adjustment time, wherein the adjustment time is based on the first time remaining in the first timeout period, wherein, if the first previous data unit was received, then the first time remaining is reduced by a second time remaining in the first timeout period when the first previous data unit was received; and generating, by the receiving layer, an error indication in response to expiration of one of the first timer based on the first timeout period and the second timer based on the second timeout period.