Method and apparatus for simultaneously processing data in a wireless communication system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for simultaneously processing data in a wireless communication system comprises a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having a plurality of communication links. The WTRU determines desired characteristics for each communication link. Data traffic is mapped to at least one communication link based on the link characteristics, and a desired redundancy level. The processed data is then transmitted on the at least one communication link, along with the redundancy information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood when read with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for simultaneously transmitting data, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of receiving simultaneously transmitted data, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram of transmission of data and redundancy information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram of an alternative transmission of data and redundancy information in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously processing data in a wireless communication system comprising at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the WTRU including a plurality of communication links, the method comprising: determining a link characteristic for each communication link;mapping data traffic to at least one communication link based on the link characteristic;determining a redundancy level;transmitting the data traffic on the at least one communication link; andtransmitting redundancy information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each communication link of the plurality of communication links is associated with a particular communication protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting information from each communication link to determine the link characteristic for each communication link.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the collected information includes information related to the type of link, transmission quality of the link, and the transmission speed of the link.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein data traffic is mapped to one communication link.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein data traffic is mapped to a plurality of communication links.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting redundancy information includes transmitting redundancy information over one communication link.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the redundancy information is transmitted over the communication link having a highest reliability level.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting redundancy information includes transmitting redundancy information over a plurality of communication links.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the redundancy information is transmitted over a plurality of communication links having equal reliability levels.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a redundancy level includes calculating a redundancy metric index.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the redundancy metric index is calculated from any one of the communication link type, the communication link quality, the communication link capacity, and the required quality of service (QoS) of a data traffic stream.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the redundancy metric index is calculated from a combination of the communication link type, the communication link quality, the communication link capacity, and the required quality of service (QoS) of a data traffic stream.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding the data traffic stream prior to transmitting the data traffic stream.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the encoding is cyclic redundancy check (CRC) encoding.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the transmitted data traffic streams.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising decoding the received data traffic streams.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising assembling the received data traffic streams.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising recovering data where all transmitted data is not received.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising reconstructing data from the data traffic stream.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising reconstructing data from the data traffic stream.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the link quality of each communication link.

23. In a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), each WTRU comprising: a data input/output (I/O) device;a convergence controller; anda plurality of communication link drivers associated with a plurality of communication links;wherein the convergence controller is configured to receive data from the data I/O device, determine a link characteristic for each communication link driver, map data traffic to at least one communication link driver based on the link characteristic, determine a redundancy level, transmit the data traffic along the at least one communication link driver, and transmit redundancy information.

24. The WTRU of claim 23, further comprising an encoder/decoder in communication with the convergence controller and the plurality of link drivers, said encoder/decoder configured to encode a data traffic stream for transmission over the plurality of link drivers.

25. The WTRU of claim 23 wherein each communication link driver is associated with a particular communication protocol.

26. The WTRU of claim 23 wherein the convergence controller is further configured to recover data received from another WTRU and reconstruct the data.

27. The WTRU of claim 23 wherein the convergence controller is further configured to transmit the link quality of each communication link driver to another WTRU.

28. In a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), each WTRU including an integrated circuit (IC) comprising: a data input/output (I/O) device;a convergence controller; anda plurality of communication link drivers associated with a plurality of communication links;wherein the convergence controller is configured to receive data from the data I/O device, determine a link characteristic for each communication link driver, map data traffic to at least one communication link driver based on the link characteristic, determine a redundancy level, transmit the data traffic along the at least one communication link driver, and transmit redundancy information.

29. The IC of claim 28, further comprising an encoder/decoder in communication with the convergence controller and the plurality of link drivers, said encoder/decoder configured to encode a data traffic stream for transmission over the plurality of link drivers.

30. The IC of claim 28 wherein each communication link driver is associated with a particular communication protocol.

31. The IC of claim 28 wherein the convergence controller is further configured to recover data received from another WTRU and reconstruct the data.

32. The IC of claim 28 wherein the convergence controller is further configured to transmit the link quality of each communication link driver to another WTRU.