Method and arrangement for resolving a temporary block flow

A method, in a mobile station, for resolving a Temporary Block Flow (TBF) in a wireless network including one or more mobile stations exchanging data with a base station by means of one or more RLC/MAC blocks, wherein the TBF is associated to the mobile station and identified by means of a Temporary Flow Identity (TFI), the method comprising:

• receiving a RLC/MAC block including an RLC/MAC header and an RLC data block;
• retrieving a first TFI from the RLC/MAC header;
• comparing the first TFI with an assigned TFI for the mobile station;
• decoding a payload of the RLC/MAC block when the first TFI matches the assigned TFI and represents a comprehensive TFI for the mobile station;
• decoding at least a predetermined field of the RLC data block and retrieving an extended TFI (eTFI) when the first TFI matches the assigned TFI and is identified as a code point to an eTFI;
• comparing the eTFI with an assigned eTFI;
• decoding the payload of the RLC data block when the eTFI matches the assigned eTFI;
• disregarding the RLC/MAC block if the first TFI does not match the assigned TFI or the eTFI does not match the assigned eTFI;
• receiving a new RLC/MAC block and repeating the steps for said RLC/MAC block.

A base station comprising:

• an antenna;
• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals over a wireless communication channel;
• and
• a processing circuit configured to:
• receive, from a mobile station exchanging data with the base station by means of one or more RLC/MAC blocks each associated with a temporary block flow (TBF) identified by a Temporary Flow Identity (TFI), a RLC/MAC block including an RLC/MAC header and an RLC data block;
• retrieve a first TFI from the RLC/MAC header;
• compare the first TFI with an assigned TFI for the mobile station;
• determine capability in the mobile station to handle extended addressing that uses an extended TFI (eTFI) field in RLC/MAC blocks;
• decode a payload of the RLC/MAC block when the first TFI matches the assigned TFI and represents a comprehensive TFI for the mobile station;
• decode at least a predetermined field of the RLC data block and retrieving an eTFI when the first TFI matches the assigned TFI value and is identified as a code point to an eTFI;
• compare the eTFI with an assigned eTFI;
• decode the payload of the RLC data block when the eTFI matches the assigned eTFI;
• and
• receive a new RLC/MAC block and repeating the steps for said RLC/MAC block.