Apparatus, and an associated method, for routing data through logical layers of a communication device
AssigneeM-Stack Limited
InventorsAndrew John Farnsworth, Nicola M. Funnell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for routing data in a communication device defined in terms of a protocol stack. The protocol stack includes an upper logical layer, a lower logical layer, and a mid stack layer. A determiner determines the configuration of the radio bearer by which the data is to be communicated. If a determination is made that the radio bearer is configured such that it does not require its application to the mid stack layers, a data bypasser causes the data to bypass the mid stack layer. If, conversely, the data is to be applied to the mid stack layer, the data is caused to be routed therethrough.
Claims18
An apparatus for a mobile station operable in a Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) cellular communication system, the mobile station selectably operable to communicate data by way of a radio bearer configured as a packet switched connection and by way of the radio bearer configured as a circuit switched connection, and the mobile station including a protocol stack, the protocol stack having an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one mid-stack layer positioned between the upper layer and the lower layer, said apparatus for sending data between the upper layer and the lower layer, said apparatus comprising:
- a radio bearer configuration determiner adapted to receive an indication of a radio bearer capability information element (IE), said radio bearer configuration determiner for determining, responsive to the indication of a radio bearer capability IE at least whether the radio bearer is configured as a packet switched connection or as a circuit switched connection, and also responsive to the indication of a radio bearer capability (IE) whether to select sending of the data through the at least one mid-stack layer during operation of the mobile station to communicate the data, where said at least one mid-stack layer comprises a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer;
- and
- a data sender instructor adapted to receive an indication of determination by said radio bearer configuration determiner, said data sender instructor configured to instruct sending of the data through the MAC layer and the RLC layer when the determination made by said radio bearer configuration determiner indicates configuration of the radio bearer as a packet switched connection, and, alternatively, to instruct sending of the data directly between the upper layer and the lower layer when the determination made by said radio bearer configuration determiner indicates configuration of the radio bearer as a circuit switched connection, wherein the MAC and RLC layer are bypassed.
A method of communicating by way of a mobile station operable in a Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) cellular communication system, the mobile station selectably operable to communicate data by way of a radio bearer configured as a packet switched connection and by way of a radio bearer configured as circuit switched connection, and the mobile station including a protocol stack, the protocol stack having an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one mid-stack layer positioned between the upper layer and the lower layer, said method for sending the data between the upper layer and the lower layer, said method comprising:
- determining, by the mobile station, responsive to an indication of a radio bearer capability information element (IE), of whether communication of the data is effectuated by way of the radio bearer configured as a packet switched connection or as a circuit switched connection, and of whether to select sending of the data through the at least one mid-stack layer during operation of the mobile station to communicate the data, where said at least one mid-stack layer comprises a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer;
- instructing, by the mobile station, sending of the data through the MAC layer and the RLC layer when determination is made during said operation of determining to send the data through the at least one mid-stack layer;
- and, otherwise
- instructing, by the mobile station, sending of the data directly between the upper level layer and the lower level layer, wherein the MAC and RLC layer are bypassed.
An apparatus for a mobile station operable in a Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) cellular communication system, the mobile station selectably operable to communicate data by way of a radio bearer configured as a packet switched connection and by way of the radio bearer configured as a circuit switched connection, and the mobile station including a protocol stack, the protocol stack having an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one mid-stack layer positioned between the upper layer and the lower layer, said apparatus for sending the data between the upper layer and the lower layer, said apparatus comprising:
- a radio bearer configuration determiner adapted to receive an indication of a radio bearer capability information element (IE), said radio bearer configuration determiner for determining, responsive to the indication of a radio bearer capability IE at least whether the radio bearer is configured as a packet switched connection or as a circuit switched connection, and also responsive to the indication of a radio bearer capability (IE) whether to select sending of the data through the at least one mid-stack layer during operation of the mobile station to communicate the data, where said at least one mid-stack layer comprises a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer;
- and
- a data sender instructor adapted to receive an indication of determination by said radio bearer configuration determiner, said data sender instructor configured to instruct sending of the data through the MAC layer and the RLC layer when the determination made by said radio bearer configuration determiner indicates configuration of the radio bearer as a packet switched connection, and, alternatively, to instruct sending of the data directly between the upper layer and the lower layer, bypassing the MAC and RLC layer, when the determination made by said radio bearer configuration determiner indicates configuration of the radio bearer as a circuit switched connection, wherein instruction to send the data directly between the upper and lower layers is made by an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message and instruction to send the data through the MAC layer and the RLC layer is made as a default setting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.