System and method for processing data and control messages in a communication system

A method for reliably decoding a message having a plurality of data units, the message including a first portion followed by a second portion, which is followed by a third portion, the first portion having data units of a first type, the second portion having data units of a second type, and the third portion having data units of a third type, the method comprising:

• receiving a first data unit;
• identifying the first data unit as being of the first type;
• processing the first data unit as a data unit of the first type;
• determining a number of units to follow in the message;
• processing subsequent received data units as data units of the first type until a received data unit is identified as a data unit of the second type;
• processing a number of subsequent received data units as data units of the second type until it is determined that the second portion of the message is complete;
• and
• upon determining that the second portion of the message is complete, processing a number of following data units as data units of the third type, wherein the number of following data units processed as data units of the third type is based on the determined number of units to follow.

A method for reliably decoding a message having a plurality of data units, the message including a first portion followed by a second portion, the first portion having data units of a first type and the second portion having data units of a second type or a third type, the method comprising:

• receiving a first data unit;
• identifying the first data unit as being of the first type;
• processing the first data unit as a data unit of the first type;
• determining a number of unit to follow in the message;
• processing subsequent received data units as data units of the first type until it is determined that the first portion of the message is complete;
• upon determining that the first portion of the message is complete, processing a number of following data units as data units of the second type or the third type,
• wherein the number of following data units processed as data units of the second type or the third type is based on the determined number of units to follow.

A method for reliably decoding a message having a plurality of data units, the message including a first portion followed by a second portion that is followed by a third portion, the first portion having data units of a first type, the second portion having data units of a second type, and the third portion having data units of a third type or a fourth type, the method comprising:

• receiving a first data unit;
• identifying the first data unit as being of the first type;
• processing the first data unit as a data unit of the first type;
• determining a number of units to follow in the message;
• processing subsequent received data units as data units of the first type until a received data unit is identified as a data unit of the second type;
• processing a number of subsequent received data units as data units of the second type until it is determined that the second portion of the message is complete;
• and
• upon determining that the second portion of the message is complete, processing a number of following data units as data units of the third type or the fourth type,
• wherein the number of following data units processed as data units of the third type or the fourth type is based on the determined number of units to follow.