Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving information packets using multi-layer error detection

A method of receiving information packets in a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving an information packet that includes a plurality of data blocks, a first layer of error detection for each of the plurality of data blocks, and an expected secondary protection code;
• b) recovering a first data block of the plurality of data blocks;
• c) determining the first layer of error detection for the first data block to perform a first level error check;
• d) determining whether the first level error check was successful;
• e) when the first level error check was successful,
• accepting the first data block;
• and
• determining a second layer of error detection for the first data block and a portion of a computed secondary protection code based on the second layer of error detection to perform a portion of a second level error check, wherein the second layer of error detection is distinct from the first layer of error detection and wherein the distinctiveness of the second layer of error detection from the first layer of error detection results in expected differences between the second layer of error detection and the first layer of error detection at least to the extent the layers of error detection correspond;
• f) repeating steps (b) through (e) for at least a second data block of the plurality of data blocks;
• g) responsive to step (f), determining the computed secondary protection code based on each portion of the computed secondary protection code and comparing the computed secondary protection code to the expected secondary protection code to complete the second level error check;
• h) determining whether the second level error check was successful;
• and
• i) when the second level error check was successful, accepting the information packet.

A communication device comprising:

• an information source for providing user information to be transmitted;
• a processor, coupled to the information source, that receives the user information, divides the user information into a plurality of data blocks, determines a first layer of error detection for each of the plurality of data blocks to produce a plurality of first layer error detections, determines a second layer of error detection for each of the plurality of data blocks to produce a plurality of second layer error detections, the plurality of second layer error detections being distinct from the plurality of first layer error detections, and determines a secondary protection code based on the plurality of second layer error detections, wherein the distinctiveness of the plurality of second layer error detections from the plurality of first layer error detections results in expected differences at least between corresponding second layer error detections and first layer error detections;
• and
• a transmitter, coupled to the processor, for transmitting an information packet that includes the plurality of data blocks, the plurality of first layer error detections, and at least a portion of the secondary protection code.

A communication device comprising:

• a receiver that receives an information packet including a plurality of data blocks, a first layer of error detection for each of the plurality of data blocks, and an expected secondary protection code;
• a processor, coupled to the receiver, that recovers each data block of the plurality of data blocks, determines the first layer of error detection for each data block to perform a respective first level error check, accepts each data block when the respective first level error check was successful, determines a second layer of error detection for each data block and a computed secondary protection code based on each second layer of error detection to perform a portion of a second level error check, compares the computed secondary protection code to the expected secondary protection code to complete the second level error check;
• and accepts the information packet when the second level error check was successful, wherein the second layer of error detection is distinct from the first layer of error detection and wherein the distinctiveness of the second layer of error detection from the first layer of error detection results in expected differences between the second layer of error detection and the first layer of error detection at least to the extent the layers of error detection correspond;
• and
• a transmitter, coupled to the processor, that transmits an acknowledgment signal indicating at least one data block of the plurality of data blocks that was not correctly received by the communication device when the first level error check was unsuccessful and that transmits an acknowledgment signal indicating that the plurality of data blocks were not correctly received by the communication device when the second level error check was unsuccessful.