Method and apparatus for handling out-of-sequence packets in header decompression

Abstract

Header compression repair techniques are accomplished, in various aspects, modes, embodiments, and implementations, by a remote terminal (), by a header decompressor () for use at a remote terminal (), and by methods of operating the remote terminal and/or decompressor, and (optionally) in some aspects, modes, embodiments, and implementations by taking into consideration aspects of structure and operation of a header compressor () as well. The remote unit () comprises a transceiver () or the like which receives, over a link () such as an air interface (), packets including packets having headers which have been compressed and packets which are potentially out-of-order. The header decompressor (), upon detection of non-receipt of packets anticipated in a flow () of packets over the link, stores, with respect to each non-receipt, a snapshot of header decompression context information existing at the non-receipt. Then, when the header decompressor detects header decompression failure for a subsequently received packet, the header decompressor determines (e.g., by executing a repair process) whether header decompression of the subsequently received packet can be achieved using one of plural stored snapshots.