Method and apparatus providing multiple temporary block flow (TBF) mapping to upper layer when operating in GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) A/Gb mode

In a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network, a method for operating a plurality of Temporary Block Flows for transferring Packet Data Units between a Logical Link Control layer of a mobile station and a Logical Link Control layer of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node through a Gb interface, comprising:

• at a level of the Logical Link Control layer and a Radio Link Control layer, distinguishing Packet Data Units belonging to a first Temporary Block Flow and Packet Data Units belonging to a second Temporary Block Flow based on information associated with each Packet Data Unit;
• and
• mapping the Packet Data Units into the appropriate one of the first Temporary Block Flow or the second Temporary Block Flow based on the information.

In a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network, a method to operate a plurality of Temporary Block Flows for transferring Packet Data Units between a Logical Link Control layer of a mobile station and a Logical Link Control layer of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node through a Gb interface, comprising:

• at a level of the Logical Link Control layer and a Radio Link Control layer, distinguishing Packet Data Units belonging to a first Temporary Block Flow and Packet Data Units belonging to a second Temporary Block Flow based on information associated with each Packet Data Unit;
• and
• mapping the Packet Data Units into the appropriate one of the first Temporary Block Flow or the second Temporary Block Flow based on the information, where the information comprises Service Access Point Identifier information carried in an address field of each Logical Link Control frame.

A wireless communications system comprising a Logical Link Control layer of a mobile station and a Logical Link Control layer of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node that are coupled together through a Gb interface, further comprising means for establishing and operating a plurality of Temporary Block Flows for transferring Packet Data Units in either an uplink or a down link direction between the Logical Link Control layer of the mobile station and the Logical Link Control layer of the Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, said means operating at a level of the Logical Link Control layer and a Radio Link Control layer for distinguishing Packet Data Units belonging to a first Temporary Block Flow from Packet Data Units belonging to a second Temporary Block Flow based on information associated with each Packet Data Unit and for mapping the Packet Data Units into the appropriate one of the first Temporary Block Flow or the second Temporary Block Flow based on the information.

A wireless communications system comprising a Logical Link Control layer of a mobile station and a Logical Link Control layer of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node that are coupled together through a Gb interface, further comprising means for establishing and operating a plurality of Temporary Block Flows for transferring Packet Data Units in either an uplink or a down link direction between the Logical Link Control layer of the mobile station and the Logical Link Control layer of the Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, said means operating at a level of the Logical Link Control layer and a Radio Link Control layer for distinguishing Packet Data Units belonging to a first Temporary Block Flow from Packet Data Units belonging to a second Temporary Block Flow based on information associated with each Packet Data Unit and for mapping the Packet Data Units into the appropriate one of the first Temporary Block Flow or the second Temporary Block Flow based on the information, where the information comprises Service Access Point Identifier information carried in an address field of each Logical Link Control frame.

A method to operate a digital wireless communications system that can use at least one Temporary Block Flow (TBF) for transferring Packet Data Units (PDUs) between upper level protocols of a mobile station and a wireless communications system node, comprising:

• distinguishing, in an upper protocol layer, PDUs belonging to a first TBF and PDUs belonging to a second TBF based on information associated with each PDU;
• and
• directing upper protocol layer PDUs into an appropriate one of the first and second TBFs based on the information associated with each PDU.

A digital wireless communications system adapted to use at least one Temporary Block Flow (TBF) for transferring Packet Data Units (PDUs) between upper level protocols of a mobile station and a wireless communications system node, comprising means disposed in an upper protocol layer for distinguishing PDUs belonging to a first TBF and PDUs belonging to a second TBF using information associated with each PDU, and for directing upper protocol layer PDUs into an appropriate one of the first and second TBFs based on the information associated with each PDU.