US6005871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Minicell alignment
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 1996-10-30
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2016-10-30
Abstract
Abstract In a telecommunication system that employs asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and minicells to transport communication data, accurate minicell header information dramatically improves the ability to align the minicells at a receiving station. More accurate minicell header information can be achieved by deriving a single header integrity check code (e.g., a cyclic redundancy code) for each ATM cell based upon minicell headers that have been inserted into contiguous locations in the ATM cell. By inserting the headers in contiguous locations, the receiving station can extract each header without having to rely upon the length indicator codes in each header, which may contain one or more bit errors. This, in turn, allows the receiving station to recompute the header integrity check code with far fewer errors, thus substantially increasing the probability of detecting and correcting the aforementioned errors and, ultimately, the ability to align the minicells.
Inventors
- 👤 Lars-Goran Petersen
- 👤 Lars Goran Wilhelm Eneroth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/10; H04L49/104; H04L49/105; H04L49/108; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5627; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5645; H04L2012/5646; H04L2012/5652; H04L2012/5653; H04L2012/5656
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
In a telecommunication system, a method of maintaining data packet alignment, the method comprising the steps of: inserting communication data into a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a variable length payload portion and a header portion; multiplexing the variable length payload portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in a data cell; multiplexing the header portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in the data cell; aligning each variable length payload portion in accordance with a corresponding one of the header portions generating a header integrity check code as a function of the header portions in the plurality of contiguous locations; inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell; transmitting the data cell to a receiving station; and prior to aligning, detecting and correcting bit errors in the header portions, using the header integrity check code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a telecommunication system, a method of maintaining data packet alignment, the method comprising the steps of: inserting communication data into a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a variable length payload portion and a header portion; multiplexing the variable length payload portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in a data cell; multiplexing the header portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in the data cell; aligning each variable length payload portion in accordance with a corresponding one of the header portions generating a header integrity check code as a function of the header portions in the plurality of contiguous locations; inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell; transmitting the data cell to a receiving station; and prior to aligning, detecting and correcting bit errors in the header portions, using the header integrity check code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell comprises the steps of: inserting the header integrity check code into a trailer segment; and inserting the trailer segment into the data cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the trailer segment contains a pointer code identifying the location of the header portions within the data cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the trailer segment contains a pointer code identifying the location of a first non-overlapping payload portion within the data cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the header integrity check code is a cyclic redundancy code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data packets are minicells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data cell is an asynchronous transfer mode cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a receiving station of a telecommunication system, a method of maintaining data packet alignment comprising the steps of: receiving a data cell which contains a plurality of contiguously located data packet payloads, a corresponding plurality of contiguously located data packet headers, and a trailer segment comprising a header integrity check code; regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers; detecting and correcting bit errors, if any, in the plurality of data packet headers as a function of the regenerated header integrity check code; and aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a receiving station of a telecommunication system, a method of maintaining data packet alignment comprising the steps of: receiving a data cell which contains a plurality of contiguously located data packet payloads, a corresponding plurality of contiguously located data packet headers, and a trailer segment comprising a header integrity check code; regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers; detecting and correcting bit errors, if any, in the plurality of data packet headers as a function of the regenerated header integrity check code; and aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers comprises the steps of: identifying a first data packet header in accordance with a pointer contained in the trailer segment; extracting each data packet header from the contiguous data cell locations; and generating the header integrity check code value as a function of the extracted data packet headers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers comprises the steps of: identifying the location of the first data packet header with a special flag bit contained within each data packet header; extracting each data packet header from the contiguous data cell locations; and generating the header integrity check code value as a function of the extracted data packet headers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers, comprises the step of: locating each of the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with a corresponding one of the plurality of the data packet headers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers, comprises the step of: identifying the location, within the data cell, of a first data packet payload in accordance with a payload pointer contained in the trailer segment; and identifying the location, within the data cell, of each remaining data packet payload in accordance with a corresponding one of a plurality of corrected data packet headers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the header integrity check code is a cyclic redundancy code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the data packets are minicells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the data cells are asynchronous transfer mode cells.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for maintaining data packet alignment in a telecommunication system, said apparatus comprising: means for inserting communication data into a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a variable length payload portion and a header portion; means for multiplexing the variable length payload portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in a data cell; means for multiplexing the header portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in the data cell; means for aligning each variable length payload portion in accordance with a corresponding one of the header portions means for generating a header integrity check code as a function of the header portions in the contiguous locations; means for inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell; sending means for transmitting the data cell to a receiving station; and means for detecting and correcting bit errors in the header portions, using the header integrity check code, prior to aligning each payload portion.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for maintaining data packet alignment in a telecommunication system, said apparatus comprising: means for inserting communication data into a plurality of data packets, wherein each of the plurality of data packets comprises a variable length payload portion and a header portion; means for multiplexing the variable length payload portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in a data cell; means for multiplexing the header portions into a corresponding plurality of contiguous locations in the data cell; means for aligning each variable length payload portion in accordance with a corresponding one of the header portions means for generating a header integrity check code as a function of the header portions in the contiguous locations; means for inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell; sending means for transmitting the data cell to a receiving station; and means for detecting and correcting bit errors in the header portions, using the header integrity check code, prior to aligning each payload portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for inserting the header integrity check code into the data cell comprises: means for inserting the header integrity check code into a trailer segment; and means for inserting the trailer segment into the data cell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the trailer segment contains a pointer code identifying the location of the header portions within the data cell.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the trailer segment contains a pointer code identifying the location of a first non-overlapping payload portion within the data cell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the header integrity check code is a cyclic redundancy code.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the data packets are minicells.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the data cell is an asynchronous transfer mode cell.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for maintaining data packet alignment in a receiving station of a telecommunication system comprising: receiver means for receiving a data cell which contains a plurality of contiguously located data packet payloads, a corresponding plurality of contiguously located data packet headers, and a trailer segment comprising a header integrity check code; processing means for regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers; means for detecting and correcting bit errors, if any, in the plurality of data packet headers as a function of the regenerated header integrity check code; and means for aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for maintaining data packet alignment in a receiving station of a telecommunication system comprising: receiver means for receiving a data cell which contains a plurality of contiguously located data packet payloads, a corresponding plurality of contiguously located data packet headers, and a trailer segment comprising a header integrity check code; processing means for regenerating a value for the header integrity check code as a function of the plurality of contiguously located data packet headers; means for detecting and correcting bit errors, if any, in the plurality of data packet headers as a function of the regenerated header integrity check code; and means for aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said processing means comprises: means for identifying a first data packet header in accordance with a pointer contained in the trailer segment; means for extracting each data packet header from the contiguous data cell locations; and second processing means for generating the header integrity check code value as a function of the extracted data packet headers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said processing means comprises: means for identifying the location of the first data packet header with a special flag bit contained within each data packet header; means for extracting each data packet header from the contiguous data cell locations; and means for generating the header integrity check code value as a function of the extracted data packet headers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers comprises: means for locating each of the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with a corresponding one of the plurality of data packet headers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for aligning the plurality of data packet payloads in accordance with the corrected data packet headers comprises: means for identifying the location, within the data cell, of a first data packet payload in accordance with a payload pointer contained in the trailer segment; and means for identifying the location, within the data cell, of each remaining data packet payload in accordance with a corresponding one of a plurality of corrected data packet headers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the header integrity check code is a cyclic redundancy code.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the data packets are minicells.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the data cells are asynchronous transfer mode cells.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |