Patent attributes
Random early detection (RED) controlled loss (i.e., discarding data packets) is determined as a function of change in processing gain assigned by a resource management system in a data network having a communications link between first and second network nodes. Rather than triggering RED controlled loss as a function of buffer levels, triggering is determined as a function of change in processing gain caused by, for example, a change in code rate, modulation technique, error (e.g., bit error rate or frame error rate), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or carrier-to-interference (C/I) level, or a number of traffic code channels or TDMA slots assigned to the nodes. In a wireless data network, this technique may be deployed in a base station or access terminal. A tight coupling between the physical layer and link layer is provided using this technique.
