Methods and systems for decoding headers that are repeatedly transmitted and received along with data on a radio channel

A method of decoding headers that are repeatedly transmitted and received along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly transmitting a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• decoding the first header;
• repeatedly transmitting a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel, in response to successful decoding of the first header;
• and
• decoding the second header.

A method of decoding Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers that are repeatedly transmitted and received along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly transmitting a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• decoding the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header field;
• repeatedly transmitting a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel, in response to successful decoding of the first header;
• and
• decoding the second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields.

A method of transmitting headers along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly transmitting a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• receiving an indication that the first header has been decoded successfully;
• and
• repeatedly transmitting a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel, in response to the received indication.

A method of transmitting Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly transmitting a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• receiving an indication that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header fields, has been decoded successfully;
• and
• repeatedly transmitting a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel, in response to the received indication.

A method of decoding headers that are repeatedly received along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly receiving a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• decoding the first header, including the invariant header fields and the changing header fields;
• indicating that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the changing header fields, has been decoded successfully;
• repeatedly receiving a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• and
• decoding the second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields.

A method of decoding Radio Link control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers that are repeatedly received along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding method comprising the steps of:

• repeatedly receiving a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• decoding the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header field;
• indicating that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header fields, has been decoded successfully;
• repeatedly receiving a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• and
• decoding the second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields.

A system for decoding headers that are repeatedly transmitted and received along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding system comprising:

• means for repeatedly transmitting a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• means for decoding the first header;
• means for repeatedly transmitting a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel, in response to successful decoding of the first header;
• and
• means for decoding the second header.

A system for decoding Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers that are repeatedly transmitted and received along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the decoding system comprising:

• means for repeatedly transmitting a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• means for decoding the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header field;
• means for repeatedly transmitting a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel, in response to successful decoding of the first header;
• and
• means for decoding the second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields.

A base station that transmits headers along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, comprising:

• a transmitter that repeatedly transmits a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• and
• a receiver that receives an indication that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the changing header fields, has been decoded successfully;
• the transmitter repeatedly transmitting a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel, in response to the received indication from the receiver.

A Base Station System (BSS) that transmits Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the BSS comprising:

• a transmitter that repeatedly transmits a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session over the GSM radio channel;
• and
• a receiver that receives an indication that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header field, has been decoded successfully;
• the transmitter repeatedly transmitting a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel, in response to the received indication.

A mobile terminal that decodes headers that are repeatedly received along with data on a radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the mobile terminal comprising:

• a receiver that repeatedly receives a first header, including invariant header fields and changing header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• a decoder that decodes the first header;
• and
• a transmitter that indicates that the first header has been decoded successfully;
• the receiver repeatedly receiving a second header, including the changing header fields but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the radio channel;
• and
• the decoder decoding the second header.

A Mobile Terminal (MT) that decodes Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) headers that are repeatedly received along with data in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) on a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) radio channel during a persistent flow communication session, the MT comprising:

• a receiver that repeatedly receives a first RLC/MAC header, including invariant header fields and a Coding and Puncturing Scheme (CPS) header field having changing values, along with data associated with the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• a decoder that decodes the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header field;
• and
• a transmitter that indicates that the first header, including the invariant header fields and the CPS header fields, have been decoded successfully;
• the receiver repeatedly receiving a second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields, along with data associated in the persistent flow communication session, over the GSM radio channel;
• and
• the decoder decoding the second RLC/MAC header, including the CPS header field but excluding at least one of the invariant header fields.