Method and apparatus for starting an acknowledgment timer
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsRobert F. Boxall, Mouayad Albaghdadi, Robert C. Scheibel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A target communication device (106) determines a length of time needed to transmit outbound information. The target communication device then transmits to a sending communication device (112) an indication of a timer value based on the length of time needed to transmit the outbound information. The sending communication device receives the indication and transmits information to the target communication device. The sending communication device determines a timer length using the indication of the timer value and starts a timer, associated with the information transmitted, with the timer length determined.
Claims18
A method for a first communication device to indicate a timer value to a second communication device for use in starting an acknowledgment timer, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a length of time needed to transmit outbound information;
- and
- transmitting to the second communication device an indication of a timer value based on the length of time needed to transmit the outbound information, so that the second communication device can start an acknowledgment timer based on the indication.
A method for a first communication device to indicate a timer value to a second communication device for use in starting an acknowledgment timer, the method comprising the steps of:
- queuing outbound information for transmission to produce an outbound queue;
- determining a place in the outbound queue for a next acknowledgment message to produce a priority outbound queue, wherein the priority outbound queue is a portion of the outbound queue to be transmitted before the next acknowledgment message;
- determining a length of time needed to transmit the priority outbound queue;
- and
- transmitting to the second communication device an indication of a timer value based on the length of time, so that the second communication device can start an acknowledgment timer based on the indication.
A method of starting an acknowledgment timer by a first communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of a timer value based on a length of time needed to transmit outbound information by a second communication device;
- transmitting information to the second communication device;
- determining a timer length using the indication of the timer value;
- and
- starting a timer, associated with the information transmitted, with the timer length.
A communication device comprising:
- a processor that determines a length of time needed to transmit outbound information and that generates an indication of timer value based on the length of time determined;
- and
- a transmitter, coupled to the processor, that transmits the indication of the timer value, so that a second communication device can start an acknowledgment timer based on the indication.
A communication device comprising:
- a receiver that receives from a second communication device an indication of a timer value based on a length of time needed to transmit outbound information by the second communication device;
- a transmitter that transmits information to the second communication device;
- and
- a processor, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, that determines a timer length using the indication of the timer value and that starts a timer, associated with the information transmitted, with the timer length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.