Selectively multiplexing communication streams

A method of operating a target user equipment (UE) that is configured to monitor one or more streams, comprising:

• receiving a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes a shared payload portion that includes stream-specific payload portions that are associated with a plurality of different streams and a common header portion for the plurality of different streams, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions of the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• determining whether one or more of the plurality of different streams are relevant to the target UE based on the stream-mapping information;
• and
• selectively decoding and processing the stream-specific payload portions corresponding to the one or more streams based on the determination.

A network device that is configured to multiplex a set of streams into a single output stream for delivery to one or more target devices, comprising:

• means for obtaining a plurality of data packets that are each associated with one of a plurality of different streams, wherein each of the plurality of obtained data packets includes a header portion with stream-specific routing information;
• means for determining that the plurality of obtained data packets are to be delivered to a common target area;
• means for stripping the stream-specific routing information from the plurality of obtained data packets to produce a plurality of stream-specific payload portions.
• means for merging at least the stream-specific payload portions into a shared payload portion of a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes common routing information for the plurality of streams in a common header portion that overrides the stream-specific routing information from the header portions of the plurality of obtained data packets, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions in the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• and
• means for delivering the stream-multiplexed data packet to a network entity that is configured to handle transmission of the stream-multiplexed data packet within the common target area.

A target user equipment (UE) that is configured to monitor one or more streams, comprising:

• means for receiving a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes a shared payload portion that includes stream-specific payload portions that are associated with a plurality of different streams and a common header portion for the plurality of different streams, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions of the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• means for determining whether one or more of the plurality of different streams are relevant to the target UE based on the stream-mapping information;
• and
• means for selectively decoding and processing the stream-specific payload portions corresponding to the one or more streams based on the determination.

A network device that is configured to multiplex a set of streams into a single output stream for delivery to one or more target devices, comprising:

• logic configured to obtain a plurality of data packets that are each associated with one of a plurality of different streams, wherein each of the plurality of obtained data packets includes a header portion with stream-specific routing information;
• logic configured to determine that the plurality of obtained data packets are to be delivered to a common target area;
• logic configured to strip the stream-specific routing information from the plurality of obtained data packets to produce a plurality of stream-specific payload portions.
• logic configured to merge at least the stream-specific payload portions into a shared payload portion of a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes common routing information for the plurality of streams in a common header portion that overrides the stream-specific routing information from the header portions of the plurality of obtained data packets, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions in the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• and
• logic configured to deliver the stream-multiplexed data packet to a network entity that is configured to handle transmission of the stream-multiplexed data packet within the common target area.

A target user equipment (UE) that is configured to monitor one or more streams, comprising:

• logic configured to receive a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes a shared payload portion that includes stream-specific payload portions that are associated with a plurality of different streams and a common header portion for the plurality of different streams, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions of the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• logic configured to determine whether one or more of the plurality of different streams are relevant to the target UE based on the stream-mapping information;
• and
• logic configured to selectively decode and process the stream-specific payload portions corresponding to the one or more streams based on the determination.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a network device that is configured to multiplex a set of streams into a single output stream for delivery to one or more target devices, cause the network device to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

• at least one instruction for causing the network device to obtain a plurality of data packets that are each associated with one of a plurality of different streams, wherein each of the plurality of obtained data packets includes a header portion with stream-specific routing information;
• at least one instruction for causing the network device to determine that the plurality of obtained data packets are to be delivered to a common target area;
• at least one instruction for causing the network device to strip the stream-specific routing information from the plurality of obtained data packets to produce a plurality of stream-specific payload portions.
• at least one instruction for causing the network device to merge at least the stream-specific payload portions into a shared payload portion of a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes common routing information for the plurality of streams in a common header portion that overrides the stream-specific routing information from the header portions of the plurality of obtained data packets, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions in the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• and
• at least one instruction for causing the network device to deliver the stream-multiplexed data packet to a network entity that is configured to handle transmission of the stream-multiplexed data packet within the common target area.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a target user equipment (UE) that is configured to monitor one or more streams, cause the target UE to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

• at least one instruction for causing the target UE to receive a stream-multiplexed data packet that includes a shared payload portion that includes stream-specific payload portions that are associated with a plurality of different streams and a common header portion for the plurality of different streams, wherein the stream-multiplexed data packet includes stream-mapping information that maps the stream-specific payload portions of the shared payload portion to the plurality of different streams;
• at least one instruction for causing the target UE to determine whether one or more of the plurality of different streams are relevant to the target UE based on the stream-mapping information;
• and
• at least one instruction for causing the target UE to selectively decode and process the stream-specific payload portions corresponding to the one or more streams based on the determination.