Communication device and method

US6992982B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Michael Meyer · Aachen, DE
• Reiner Ludwig · Schwarzenbek, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 5, 2000
• Grant date: Jan 31, 2006
• Expiry date: Jan 5, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L2012/5649
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A device and method for controlling data unit communications between a sender and a receiver, and flexibly responding to a potential data loss event. Data to be sent are divided into data units and transmitted from the sender to the receiver. The receiver acknowledges correct receipt of the data units by returning acknowledgment data units to the sender. If the receiver fails to receive a data unit, the sender retransmits the data unit using a flow control procedure using adaptive parameters and the acknowledgment data units. If the receiver then correctly receives and acknowledges the data unit, the sender determines whether the data unit was correctly received as a result of the original transmitting step or the retransmitting step. If the former (i.e., the original transmitting step), an excessive delay response procedure is selectively performed. If the latter (i.e., the retransmitting step), a data unit loss response procedure is selectively performed.