摘要 |
A novel and useful buffer flushing mechanism for use in a communications link. Using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol mechanisms, network elements in a radio access network initiate a HARQ buffer flushing operation. Network elements on both ends of a communication link can autonomously initiate coordinated or uncoordinated flushing of their respective HARQ process buffers based on internal algorithms and/or criteria previously negotiated between the two elements. The flushing operation may be performed on all or a part of the buffer (transmit and/or receive) or on certain complete or partial accumulated information. The criteria may comprise any suitable data including, for example, timeout data, thresholds based on one or more link quality parameters, data measurements exceeding a threshold, etc. which can be used to trigger a buffer flushing event.
|