Radio telecommunications system and method of operating the same with polling

A method of performing communication between a first and a second radio link control (RLC)/medium access control (MAC) entity, comprising:

• performing, by the second RLC/MAC entity:
• receiving a set of data blocks from the first RLC/MAC entity;
• receiving a plurality of polling messages to request that the second RLC/MAC entity acknowledge receipt of the set of data blocks transmitted from the first RLC/MAC entity to the second RLC/MAC entity;
• and
• transmitting at least one acknowledgement message acknowledging receipt of one or more of the set of data blocks, the at least one acknowledgement message being responsive to a particular one of the plurality of polling messages;
• wherein receiving the plurality of polling messages comprises:
• receiving a first polling message after a previously received polling message, wherein an interval of time between reception of the previously received polling message and reception of the first polling message is a first polling interval, and
• receiving a second polling message after the first polling message, wherein an interval of time between reception of the first polling message and reception of the second polling message is a second polling interval, wherein the second polling interval is different from the first polling interval, and wherein the second polling interval is based on at least one parameter of the set of data blocks.

A second radio link control (RLC)/medium access control (MAC) entity configured to wirelessly communicate with a first RLC/MAC entity, wherein the second RLC/MAC entity comprises:

• an interface to one or more antennas for performing wireless communication;
• and
• processing hardware coupled to the one or more antennas via the interface, wherein the processing hardware is configured to:
• receive, via the interface, a plurality of polling messages to request that the second RLC/MAC entity acknowledge receipt of a set of data blocks transmitted from the first RLC/MAC entity to the second RLC/MAC entity;
• and
• transmit, via the interface, from the second RLC/MAC entity at least one acknowledgement message acknowledging receipt of one or more of the set of data blocks, the at least one acknowledgement message being responsive to a particular one of the plurality of polling messages;
• wherein to receive the plurality of polling messages, the processing hardware is further configured to:
• receive, via the interface, a first polling message after a previously transmitted polling message, wherein an interval of time between transmission of the previously transmitted polling message and transmission of the first polling message is a first polling interval;
• and
• receive, via the interface, a second polling message after the first polling message, wherein an interval of time between transmission of the first polling message and transmission of the second polling message is a second polling interval, wherein the second polling interval is different from the first polling interval, and wherein the second polling interval is determined responsive to at least one parameter of the set of data blocks.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a wireless interface;
• and
• a processing element coupled to the wireless interface, wherein the processing element is configured to:
• receive, via the wireless interface, a plurality of polling messages to request that a receiving radio link control (RLC)/medium access control (MAC) entity acknowledge receipt of a set of data blocks transmitted to the receiving RLC/MAC entity;
• and
• transmit, via the wireless interface, from the receiving RLC/MAC entity at least one acknowledgement message acknowledging receipt of one or more of the set of data blocks, the at least one acknowledgement message being responsive to a particular one of the plurality of polling messages;
• wherein to receive the plurality of polling messages, the processing element is further configured to:
• receive, via the wireless interface, a first polling message after a previously transmitted polling message, wherein an interval of time between transmission of the previously transmitted polling message and transmission of the first polling message is a first polling interval;
• and
• receive, via the wireless interface, a second polling message after the first polling message, wherein an interval of time between transmission of the first polling message and transmission of the second polling message a second polling interval, wherein the second polling interval is different from the first polling interval, and wherein the second polling interval is determined responsive to at least one parameter of the set of data blocks.