Outer coding header for RAN-based network coding

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device, comprising:

• segmenting each packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) packet in a plurality of PDCP packets into a set of outer coding (OC) symbols, wherein the plurality of PDCP packets corresponds to a packet data unit (PDU) set;
• assembling multiple sets of OC symbols into an OC block;
• applying a forward error correction (FEC) encoding to the OC block;
• adding an OC header or a radio link control (RLC) header to the OC block, wherein the OC header or the RLC header includes an indication of a boundary for each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets, wherein the indication includes at least one of a start indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets or a length indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets;
• and
• outputting the OC block based on the FEC encoding.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device, comprising:

• at least one memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor, individually or in any combination, is configured to:
• assemble one or more outer coding (OC) symbols of a packet data unit (PDU) set into a set of OC blocks, wherein the PDU set includes a plurality of packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) packets, wherein each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets includes a set of OC symbols, wherein each OC block in the set of OC blocks includes at least one of an OC header or a radio link control (RLC) header, wherein the OC header or the RLC header includes an indication of a boundary for each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets, wherein the indication includes at least one of a start indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets or a length indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets;
• apply a forward error correction (FEC) decoding to the set of OC blocks;
• and
• reconstruct the PDU set from the set of OC blocks based on the FEC decoding.

A method of wireless communication at a wireless device, comprising:

• assembling one or more outer coding (OC) symbols of a packet data unit (PDU) set into a set of OC blocks, wherein the PDU set includes a plurality of packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) packets, wherein each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets includes a set of OC symbols, wherein each OC block in the set of OC blocks includes at least one of an OC header or a radio link control (RLC) header, wherein the OC header or the RLC header includes an indication of a boundary for each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets, wherein the indication includes at least one of a start indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets or a length indicator of each PDCP packet in the plurality of PDCP packets;
• applying a forward error correction (FEC) decoding to the set of OC blocks;
• and
• reconstructing the PDU set from the set of OC blocks based on the FEC decoding.