HK1073407B - Method for branching data in mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

Method for transferring data in mobile communication terminal

This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application having an application date of 10/1/1999, an application number of 99122483.3, entitled "method for transferring data in a mobile communication terminal".

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to mobile communication terminals, and more particularly, to a method of transferring data in a mobile communication terminal.

Background

Until now, conventional mobile communication terminals only provide a pure voice service or a simple short message service (hereinafter, referred to as SMS). With the development of the third generation mobile communication system, multimedia services and short/long packet services have been recently proposed.

This third generation service requires a new layer called the medium access control (hereinafter MAC) sublayer.

The MAC sublayer performs a transfer operation suitable for traffic characteristics in order to appropriately process a large amount of traffic.

However, the conventional mobile communication system has a disadvantage in that it cannot efficiently transfer various multimedia and packet services at the MAC sublayer because the system provides only a simple service such as SMS.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of transferring data in a mobile communication terminal, in which a multimedia access control sublayer appends an identifier logical channel type based on communication characteristics from a radio resource control layer and other upper layers to a multimedia access control header and performs mapping and multiplexing/demultiplexing between logical channels and transport channels according to the appended logical channel type in order to transfer data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, in a method of performing data communication between a mobile station and a network respectively having a medium access control sublayer, there is provided a method for transferring data in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the first steps of: in the data transmission mode, causing each of a media access control sublayer of the network and the mobile station to attach a logical channel type based on the traffic characteristic information and the radio bearer state to a media access control header contained in data to be transmitted; the second step is as follows: causing each media access control sublayer to transfer data to be transmitted to a transport channel corresponding to the additional logical channel type; the third step: in a data reception mode, causing each media access control sublayer to determine a logical channel corresponding to a logical channel type of a media access control header contained in reception data; and a fourth step of: causing each media access control sublayer to transfer the received data to the determined logical channel.

Preferably, each of the second and fourth steps may comprise the steps of: each of the medium access control sublayers is caused to perform a channel mapping operation in a one-to-one manner, a channel multiplexing operation in a many-to-one manner, and a channel demultiplexing operation in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer data to be transmitted or received.

Preferably, in addition, the traffic characteristic information may include a traffic characteristic identifier transmitted from the radio resource control layer and other upper layers.

Preferably, each traffic characteristic identifier may represent any one of random access data, synchronization data, system information, paging information, forward access grant information, short message service data, non-radio bearer type short packet data, signaling data, radio bearer type short/long packet data, multicast signaling data, multicast data, and voice characteristics.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a method of performing data communication between a mobile station and a network respectively having a medium access control sublayer, there is provided a method for transferring data in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the first steps of: causing the mobile station and each of the media access control sublayers of the network to set information on a connection between a logical channel and a transport channel according to traffic characteristic information and a radio bearer state; the second step is as follows: in a data transmission mode, each media access control sublayer is enabled to attach a logical channel type to a data media access control header contained in data to be transmitted according to the set connection information; the third step: causing each of said medium access control sublayers to transfer said data to be transmitted to transport channels corresponding to the additional logical channel type.

In a feature of the present invention, the medium access control sublayer appends a logical channel type based on a traffic characteristic identifier from the radio resource control layer and other upper layers to the medium access control header, and performs mapping and multiplexing/demultiplexing between the logical channel and the transport channel according to the appended logical channel type in order to transfer data. This makes it possible to efficiently provide various multimedia services and packet services.

Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a data transfer state between a mobile station and a base station in a method of transferring data in a mobile communication terminal applied according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a data transfer state between a mobile station and a base station in a method of transferring data in a mobile communication terminal applied according to the present invention.

A method of transferring data in a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 1A and 1B.

As shown in fig. 1A and 1B, channels related to the MAC sublayer are classified into logical channels and transport channels.

The logical channels are mapped to MAC service access points (hereinafter referred to as SAPs) of an interface between the MAC sublayer and the upper layer, respectively.

The above logical channels can be generally classified into a synchronization control channel (hereinafter, SCCH) for simplex transmission of system synchronization data through a downlink, a broadcast control channel (hereinafter, BCCH), for simplex broadcasting of system information through a downlink, a paging control channel (hereinafter, referred to as PCCH), for simplex transmission of paging information through a downlink, a common control channel (hereinafter, referred to as CCCH), for dual-site transmission of random access data, forward access control data and short packet data, over the downlink and uplink, dedicated control channels (hereinafter DCCH), for transmitting dedicated signal control information, and a dedicated communication channel (hereinafter referred to as DTCH), for transmitting dedicated user long/short packet data through downlink and uplink dual worksites.

CCCH, DCCH and DTCH are adapted to transmit certain data according to the connection between the MAC sublayer and the radio resource control (hereinafter RRC) layer and the presence of a radio bearer. That is, the CCCH transmits random access data in a state where the RRC layer is not connected to the MAC sublayer, and the DCCH transmits SMS data, signaling data, and multicast signals in a state where the RRC layer is connected to the MAC sublayer. The DTCH transmits short/multicast packet data in the absence of radio bearer presence state and short/long/multicast packet data in the presence of radio bearer.

The above multicast signals, short/multicast packet data and short/long/multicast packet data are only available on the network.

Transport channels are mapped to physical (hereinafter referred to as PHY) -SAPs in the interface between the MAC sublayer and the PHY layer, respectively.

The above transport channels may be generally classified into synchronization channels (hereinafter, referred to as SCH), including a first channel and a second channel, for transmission of system synchronization signals, a broadcast channel (hereinafter referred to as BCH) for simplex broadcast of system information over the downlink, a paging channel (hereinafter referred to as PCH), for simplex transmission of paging information over the downlink, a forward access channel (hereinafter referred to as FACH), for simplex transmission of forward access grant information and short packet data over the downlink, a random access channel (hereinafter referred to as RACH), for simplex transmission of random access data and short packet data over the uplink, a downlink shared channel (hereinafter referred to as DSCH), for simplex multicast of user data over the downlink, and dedicated channels (hereinafter referred to as DCH), for duplex transmission of dedicated signal information and dedicated user data over downlink and uplink.

On the other hand, in the sending entity, the MAC sublayer must build a MAC Protocol Data Unit (PDU) with a MAC header containing the type of logical channel through which the upper layer data is transmitted. In the receiving entity, the MAC sublayer determines a logical channel in which the received MAC PDUs are demultiplexed using the logical channel type of the MAC header. This process will be described in detail later, and is divided into channel mapping and channel multiplexing/demultiplexing between the mobile station and the network.

First, a description is given of a channel mapping operation for data transmission and reception between a mobile station and a network.

The channel mapping operation is performed in the mobile station in the following manner.

In case that a mobile station intends to transmit data to a network, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station maps CCCH, which is a logical channel for transmitting random access data, to RACH, which is a transport channel for transmitting random access data in a one-to-one manner.

In case that the mobile station is to receive data from the network, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station maps the SCH, BCH, and PCH, which are transport channels for transmitting signaling data, to the SCCH, BCCH, and PCCH, which are logical channels, respectively, in a one-to-one manner.

The channel mapping operation is performed in the network in the following manner.

In case the network is going to send data to the mobile station, the MAC sublayer of the network maps the SCCH, BCCH, PCCH and CCCH, respectively, which are logical channels for transmitting system synchronization data, to SCH, BCH, PCH and FACH, which are transport channels, in a one-to-one manner, wherein the SCCH is a logical channel for transmitting system information, the PCCH is a logical channel for transmitting paging information and the CCCH is a logical channel for transmitting forward access grant information.

Notably, no channel mapping operation is performed in the network with respect to data transmitted from the mobile station to the network.

Next, a description will be given of a channel multiplexing/demultiplexing operation of the mobile station.

The channel multiplexing operation of the mobile station is performed in the following manner.

First, the RRC layer and other upper layers of the mobile station transmit traffic characteristic identifiers to the MAC sublayer of the mobile station.

The MAC sublayer of the mobile station attaches a logical channel type based on traffic characteristics from the RRC layer and other upper layers' traffic characteristic identifiers to the MAC header. Then, the MAC sublayer transfers the data to a transport channel corresponding to the additional logical channel type through the PHY-SAP.

The traffic characteristics may generally be random access data, synchronization data, system information, paging information, forward access grant information, SMS data, short packet data (non-radio bearers), signaling data, short/long packet data (radio bearers), multicast signaling data, multicast data, and voice characteristics.

For example, if the random access data, SMS data and non-radio bearer type short packet data features are required, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station attaches the types of CCCH, DCCH and DTCH to the MAC header and multiplexes the CCCH, DCCH and DTCH to RACH in a many-to-one manner in order to convert data through PHY-SAP. Here, CCCH is a logical channel for transmitting random access data, DCCH is a logical channel for transmitting SMS data, DTCH is a logical channel for transmitting non-radio bearer type short packet data, and RACH is a transport channel.

In case of requiring signaling data and radio bearer type short/long packet data feature, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station attaches the type of DCCH and DTCH to the MAC header and multiplexes the DCCH and DTCH to DCH in a many-to-one manner in order to transfer data through the PHY-SAP. Here, the DCCH is a logical channel for transmitting signaling data, the DTCH is a logical channel for transmitting radio bearer type short/long packet data, and the DCH is a transport channel.

The channel demultiplexing operation of the mobile station is performed in the following manner.

A network, or a transmitting entity, attaches a logical channel type based on traffic characteristics to the MAC header and the mobile station, or a receiving entity, performs a channel demultiplexing operation according to the logical channel type attached to the MAC header.

For example, if the transport channel is a FACH through which data from a network or a receiving entity is transmitted, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station demultiplexes the FACH into logical channels corresponding to traffic characteristics of logical channel types attached to the MAC header of the transmitted data in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the transmitted data to an upper layer through MAC-SAP.

For example, i.e., in case forward access permission information, SMS data and non-radio bearer type short packet data features are required by the transmitting entity, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station recognizes that the logical channel types attached to the MAC header of the received data correspond to CCCH, DCCH and DTCH, respectively, and demultiplexes the FACH to CCCH, DCCH and DTCH in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the received data to an upper layer through the MAC-SAP. Here, the FACH is a transport channel, and CCCH, DCCH, and DTCH are logical channels.

If the multicast signaling data and multicast data characteristics are required by the transmitting entity, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station recognizes that the logical channel type attached to the MAC header of the received data corresponds to DCCH and DTCH, respectively, and demultiplexes the DSCH to DCCH and DTCH in a one-to-many manner so as to transfer the received data to an upper layer through MAC-SAP. Here, the DSCH is a transport channel, and the DCCH and DTCH are logical channels.

When dedicated signaling data and radio bearer type short/long packet data characteristics are required by a transmitting entity, the MAC sublayer of the mobile station recognizes that logical channel types attached to a MAC header of received data correspond to DCCH and DTCH, respectively, and demultiplexes the DCH to DCCH and DTCH in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the received data to an upper layer through MAC-SAP. Here, the DCH is a transport channel, and DCCH and DTCH are logical channels.

Finally, a description will be given of the channel multiplexing/demultiplexing operation of the network.

The channel multiplexing operation of the network is performed in the following manner.

First, the RRC layer and other upper layers of the network transfer traffic characteristic identifiers to the MAC sublayer of the network.

The MAC sublayer of the network appends to the MAC header a logical channel type based on traffic characteristics from the RRC layer and other upper layers' traffic characteristic identifiers. Then, the MAC sublayer transfers data to a transport channel corresponding to the additional logical channel type.

The traffic characteristics may generally be random access data, synchronization data, system information, paging information, forward access grant information, SMS data, short packet data (non-radio bearers), signaling data, short/long packet data (radio bearers), multicast signaling data, multicast data, and voice characteristics.

For example, in case forward access permission information, SMS data and non-radio bearer type short packet data features are needed, then the MAC sublayer of the network appends the type of CCCH, DCCH and DTCH to the MAC header and multiplexes the CCCH, DCCH and DTCH to FACH in a many-to-one fashion in order to transfer data over PHY-SAP. Here, CCCH is a logical channel for transmitting forward access grant information, DCCH is a logical channel for transmitting SMS data, DTCH is a logical channel for transmitting non-radio bearer type short packet data, and FACH is a transport channel.

If multicast signaling data and multicast data features are required, the MAC sublayer of the network appends the type of DCCH and DTCH to the MAC header and multiplexes the DCCH and DTCH to the DCH in a many-to-one manner to transfer data through the PHY-SAP. Here, the DCCH is a logical channel for transmitting multicast signaling data, the DTCH is a logical channel for transmitting multicast data, and the DSCH is a transport channel.

In case signaling data and radio bearer type short/long packet data features are needed, the MAC sublayer of the network appends the type of DCCH and DTCH to the MAC header and multiplexes the DCCH and DTCH to DCH in a many-to-one manner in order to transfer data over PHY-SAP. Here, the DCCH is a logical channel for transmitting signaling data, the DTCH is a logical channel for transmitting radio bearer type short/long packet data, and the DCH is a transport channel.

The network channel demultiplexing operation is performed in the following manner.

The mobile station, or transmitting entity, attaches a logical channel type based on traffic characteristics to the MAC header and the network, or receiving entity, performs a channel demultiplexing operation according to the logical channel type attached to the MAC header.

For example, in the case where the transport channel through which data from the mobile station or the transmitting entity is transmitted is a RACH, the MAC sublayer of the network demultiplexes the RACH to a logical channel corresponding to traffic characteristics of a logical channel type attached to a MAC header of the transmitted data in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the transmitted data to an upper layer through MAC-SAP.

For example, i.e., if forward access grant information, SMS data and non-radio bearer type short packet data characteristics are required by the transmitting entity, the MAC sublayer of the network recognizes that the logical channel types attached to the MAC header of the received data correspond to CCCH, DCCH and DTCH, respectively, and demultiplexes the RACH to CCCH, DCCH and DTCH in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the received data to the upper layer through the MAC-SAP. Here, the RACH is a transport channel, and the CCCH, DCCH, and DTCH are logical channels.

In case the dedicated signaling data and radio bearer type short/long packet data features are required by the sending entity, the MAC sublayer of the network recognizes that the logical channel type attached to the MAC header of the received data corresponds to DCCH and DTCH, respectively, and demultiplexes the DCH to DCCH and DTCH in a one-to-many manner in order to transfer the received data to the upper layer through MAC-SAP. Here, the DCH is a transport channel, and DCCH and DTCH are logical channels.

According to the present invention, since it is apparent from the above description, the MAC sublayer performs mapping and multiplexing/demultiplexing between logical channels and transport channels according to traffic characteristics in order to transfer data. Accordingly, the present invention has the effect of efficiently providing various multimedia and packet services.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and deletions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims (9)

1. A method for processing data in a media access control layer of a mobile communication device, comprising:

receiving service characteristic information from at least one of the upper layers;

identifying a logical channel type based on the traffic characteristic information;

including information indicating a logical channel type into a header of a medium access control protocol data unit; and is

The medium access control protocol data unit is delivered to a lower layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper layer comprises a radio resource control layer, a radio link control layer, and a link access control layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radio resource control layer is RRC, the radio link control layer is RLC, and the link access control layer is LAC.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower layer is a physical layer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic characteristic information comprises synchronization data and paging information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic characteristic information includes random access data and forward access permission information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic characteristic information comprises short message service data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service characteristic information includes multicast signaling data, multicast data, and voice characteristics.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical channel types include a dedicated control channel and a dedicated traffic channel.