US6539030B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing configurable layers and protocols in a communications system
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 2000-02-07
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2020-02-07
Abstract
Abstract The layers and protocols of an air interface layering architecture are designed to be modular and can be modified and upgraded to support new features, perform complex tasks, and implement additional functionality. Prior to commencement of data communication between a first entity (e.g., an access terminal) and a second entity (e.g., a radio network), a set of layers and/or protocols is selected for negotiation. For each selected layer and protocol (i.e., each attribute), a list of attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity is determined. The selected attributes and their associated attribute values are sent from the first entity and, in response, a list of processed attributes and their associated lists of processed attribute values are received. Each list of processed attribute values includes attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity. The layers and protocols in the first entity are then configured in accordance with the received list of processed attributes and their associated processed attribute values. Other features related to configurable layers and protocols are also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Bender
- 👤 Gadi Karmi
- 👤 Bibhu Mohanty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W28/00; H04W28/16; H04W28/18; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for configuring a layer or protocol prior to commencement of data communication by a first entity the method comprising: selecting at the first entity a set of one or more layers and one or more protocols to be negotiated, wherein each selected layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute to be negotiated between the first entity and a second entity; for each attribute, determining a list of selected attribute values that includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity; sending from the first entity a list of selected attributes and their associated lists of selected attribute values; receiving at the first entity the list of processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values, wherein each list of processed attribute values includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity; and configuring the selected set of one or more layers and one or more protocols in the first entity in accordance with the received list of the processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for configuring a layer or protocol prior to commencement of data communication by a first entity the method comprising: selecting at the first entity a set of one or more layers and one or more protocols to be negotiated, wherein each selected layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute to be negotiated between the first entity and a second entity; for each attribute, determining a list of selected attribute values that includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the first entity; sending from the first entity a list of selected attributes and their associated lists of selected attribute values; receiving at the first entity the list of processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values, wherein each list of processed attribute values includes one or more attribute values considered acceptable to the second entity; and configuring the selected set of one or more layers and one or more protocols in the first entity in accordance with the received list of the processed attributes and their associated lists of the processed attribute values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein elements in each list of the selected attribute values are arranged in an order based on preference of the first entity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each processed attribute value is associated with one processed attribute value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the layers and protocols in the first entity are configured with their default values if corresponding processed attribute values are not received at the first entity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the sending and receiving are achieved via dedicated communications channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first entity or the second entity, or both, implements a state machine having a plurality of states including: an inactive state indicative of inactivity prior to a session negotiation, an initiated state indicative of the session negotiation over the list of the selected attributes, and an open state indicative of active communication between the first entity and the second entity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the initiated state includes: an access terminal initiated state indicative of the session negotiation over attributes selected by the first entity, and a radio network initiated state indicative of the session negotiation over attributes selected by the second entity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of the selected attributes and their associated lists of the selected attribute values are sent from the first entity via one or more configuration-request messages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of the processed attribute values and their associated lists of the processed attribute values are received at the first entity via one or more configuration-response messages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the processed attribute values and their associated lists of the processed attribute values are received in an order corresponding to an order of the selected attributes and their associated lists of the selected attribute values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication between the first entity and the second entity occurs via default layers and protocols prior to completion of configuration of the selected set of one or more layers and one or mores protocols in the first entity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an entity identifier at the first entity, and wherein subsequent messages sent from the first entity are identified by the entity identifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first entity and the second entity each selects a set of attributes to be negotiated, and wherein the negotiation of the set of attributes selected by the first entity is completed prior to the negotiation of the set of attributes selected by the second entity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first entity is an access terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second entity is a radio network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An access terminal in a spread spectrum communications system configured to implement the method of claim 1 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: sending from the first entity an open-request message indicative of a request to open a communications session; and receiving at the first entity an open-response message indicative of an acceptance or rejection of the request to open the communications session.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the open-request message and the open-response message are sent and received via common communications channels.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for providing configurable layers or protocols, or both, in a communications system, the method comprising: maintaining a set of default layers and protocols for use at a first entity to communicate with a second entity; maintaining a set of one or more configurable layers and one or more configurable protocols, or a combination thereof, wherein each configurable layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute that can be negotiated between the first entity and the second entity; providing a set of configuration messages used for sending and receiving configuration information related to each attribute, and providing a state machine indicative of a communications state of the first entity.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for providing configurable layers or protocols, or both, in a communications system, the method comprising: maintaining a set of default layers and protocols for use at a first entity to communicate with a second entity; maintaining a set of one or more configurable layers and one or more configurable protocols, or a combination thereof, wherein each configurable layer and protocol corresponds to an attribute that can be negotiated between the first entity and the second entity; providing a set of configuration messages used for sending and receiving configuration information related to each attribute, and providing a state machine indicative of a communications state of the first entity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the configuration messages are implemented at a session layer of the communications system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the set of default layers and protocols includes an overhead protocol for sending and receiving messages that support negotiation and configuration of a set of configurable attributes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the state machine includes; an inactive state indicative of inactivity prior to a session negotiation, an initiated state indicative of the negotiation over one or more of the attributes,and an open state indicative of active communication between the first entity and the second entity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein each configuration message includes an entity identifier that identifies the first entity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein each configuration message includes a transaction identifier that identifies a particular instance of the configuration message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An access terminal in a spread spectrum communications system configured to implement the method of claim 19 .
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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) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |