Enhanced multiplexing for single RLC entity

A communication terminal for transmitting data to a receiver within the context of a single radio link control (RLC) entity, the communication terminal comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting data blocks to a receiver over a wireless communication channel;
• and
• a processor to generate the data blocks for transmission over the wireless communication channel, the processor configured to:
• transmit lower priority data blocks containing data segments of a first higher layer packet associated with a lower priority first packet flow context (PFC), each of said lower priority data blocks including a first temporary flow identifier (TFI) uniquely associated with the first PFC;
• interrupt the transmission of said first higher layer packet before transmission is complete;
• transmit higher priority data blocks containing data segments of a second higher layer packet associated with a higher priority second PFC;
• indicate the interruption by including a second TFI uniquely associated with the second PFC in an initial one of the higher priority data blocks;
• and
• resume the transmission of said first higher layer packet from the point of interruption of the transmission of the first higher layer packet after transmission of a final data segment of said second higher layer packet.

A method of receiving data at a receiver from a transmitter within the context of a single radio link control (RLC) entity, the method comprising:

• receiving lower priority data blocks containing data segments of a first higher layer packet associated with a lower priority first packet flow context (PFC) uniquely identified by a first temporary flow identifier (TFI);
• detecting an interruption of said first higher layer packet upon receipt of an initial one of higher priority data blocks containing a data segment of a second higher layer packet associated with a higher priority second PFC, wherein the initial one of the higher priority data blocks includes a second TFI uniquely associated with the second PFC to enable detection of the interruption;
• receiving a final higher priority data block containing a final data segment of the second higher layer packet;
• and
• resuming the reception of said first higher layer packet from the point of interruption of the reception of the first higher layer packet after reception of said final data segment of said second higher layer packet.

A communication terminal for receiving data packets from a transmitter within the context of a single radio link control (RLC) entity, the communication terminal comprising:

• a transceiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter over a wireless communication channel;
• and
• a processor configured to reassemble data segments of a first higher layer packet associated with a lower priority first packet flow context (PFC) uniquely identified by a first temporary flow identity (TFI) and data segments of a second higher layer packet associated with a higher priority second PFC uniquely identified by a second TFI, the processor being configured to:
• process lower priority data blocks containing the data segments of the first higher layer packet;
• interrupt the processing of said lower priority data blocks to process higher priority data blocks containing the data segments of the second higher layer packet upon receipt of an initial one of the higher priority data blocks containing the second TFI;
• process one or more additional higher priority data blocks including a final higher priority data block containing a final data segment of the second higher layer packet;
• and
• resume the processing of the lower priority data blocks from the point of interruption of the processing of the lower priority data blocks after processing the final data segment of the second higher layer packet.