Ethernet header compression for data sent over non-access stratum (NAS) control plane

A method of wireless communication for use by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• sending a mobility management registration request signal to a wireless communication network indicating the wireless communication device supports Ethernet header compression (EHC) for data transfer over a control plane;
• obtaining a mobility management registration response from the wireless communication network indicating the wireless communication network supports EHC for data transfer over the control plane;
• sending a session establishment request signal to the wireless communication network comprising a request to establish a session, the session establishment request signal further comprising a request to use EHC during the session and a request for a field length for an EHC Context identification (ID);
• obtaining a session establishment acknowledgement from the wireless communication network in response to the request to establish a session that uses EHC and that comprises an indicator that provides the field length for the EHC Context ID;
• and
• sending data compressed using EHC to the wireless communication network over the control plane, the data comprising the EHC Context ID configured in accordance with the field length, wherein a first uncompressed data packet and one or more subsequent compressed data packets each include the EHC Context ID.

A network component of a wireless communication network, the network component comprising:

• a network interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to
• obtain a mobility management registration request signal from a wireless communication device indicating the wireless communication device supports Ethernet header compression (EHC) for data transfer over a control plane;
• send a mobility management registration response to the wireless communication device indicating the wireless communication network supports EHC for data transfer over the control plane;
• obtain a session establishment request signal from the wireless communication device comprising a request to establish a session, the session establishment request signal further comprising a request to use EHC during the session and a request for a field length for an EHC Context identification (ID);
• send a session establishment acknowledgement to the wireless communication device in response to the request to establish a session that uses EHC and that comprises an indicator that provides a selected field length for the EHC Context ID;
• and
• obtain data compressed using EHC from the wireless communication device over the control plane, the data comprising the EHC Context ID configured in accordance with the selected field length, wherein a first uncompressed data packet and one or more subsequent compressed data packets each include the EHC Context ID.

A method of wireless communication for use by a network component of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• obtaining a mobility management registration request signal from a wireless communication device indicating the wireless communication device supports Ethernet header compression (EHC) for data transfer over a control plane;
• sending a mobility management registration request response to the wireless communication device indicating the wireless communication network supports EHC for data transfer over the control plane;
• obtaining a session establishment request signal from the wireless communication device comprising a request to establish a session, the session establishment request signal further comprising a request to use EHC during the session and a request for a field length for an EHC Context identification (ID);
• sending a session establishment acknowledgement to the wireless communication device in response to the request to establish a session that uses EHC and further comprises a selected field length for the EHC Context ID;
• and
• obtaining data compressed using EHC from the wireless communication device over the control plane, the data comprising the EHC Context ID configured in accordance with the selected field length, wherein a first uncompressed data packet and one or more subsequent compressed data packets each include the EHC Context ID.