METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKET DELAY MANAGEMENT IN eCPRI NETWORK

A method for data packet delay management in a communications network connecting a sender node over an enhanced Common Public Radio Interface, eCPRI, interface to a receiver node, the method performed at the sender node transmitting data packets to the receiver node and comprising the steps of:

• receiving from the receiver node over the eCPRI interface at least one message comprising information indicative of length of time of a Medium Access Control, MAC, flow control;
• pausing encapsulation of eCPRI packets in response to receiving a first one of said at least one message comprising information indicative of length of time of a MAC flow control;
• receiving at least one MAC flow control frame;
• and
• pausing transmission of traffic over a transport interface to the receiver node in response to receiving a first one of said at least one MAC flow control frame.

A receiver node for use in a communications network, the receiver node comprising a buffer and an physical interface for connecting the receiver node to a sender node over an enhanced Common Public Radio Interface, eCPRI, interface, the receiver node further comprising a processing circuitry and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry such that the receiver node is operative to:

• monitor a buffer level at a buffer receiving data from the sender node;
• when the buffer level reaches a threshold the receiver node is operative to:
• transmit to the sender node over the eCPRI interface at least one message comprising information indicative of length of time of a Medium Access Control, MAC, flow control;
• and
• transmit at least one MAC flow control frame to the sender node with a delay.

A sender node for use in a communications network, the sender node comprising a physical interface for connecting the sender node to a receiver node over an enhanced Common Public Interface, eCPRI, interface, the sender node further comprising a processing circuitry and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry such that the sender node is operative to:

• receive from the receiver node over the eCPRI interface at least one message comprising information indicative of length of time of a Medium Access Control, MAC, flow control;
• pause encapsulation of eCPRI packets in response to receiving a first one of said at least one message comprising information indicative of length of time of a MAC flow control;
• receive at least one MAC flow control frame;
• and
• pause transmission of traffic over a transport interface to the receiver node in response to receiving a first one of said at least one MAC flow control frame.