An example communication method includes that a first terminal device receives through a first path a first data packet from a second terminal device. The first terminal device receives through a second path a second data packet from a second terminal device, where the first path has a mapping relationship with the second path. The first terminal device transmits, based on the mapping relationship, the first data packet and the second data packet to a same aggregation protocol layer entity to perform data aggregation processing.

An example communication method includes that a first terminal device receives through a first path a first data packet from a second terminal device. The first terminal device receives through a second path a second data packet from a second terminal device, where the first path has a mapping relationship with the second path. The first terminal device transmits, based on the mapping relationship, the first data packet and the second data packet to a same aggregation protocol layer entity to perform data aggregation processing.

A receiver receives a data packet with a header and a payload. The payload includes at least one full service data unit, one or two service data unit fragments, or at least one full service data unit and at least one service data unit fragment, where a service data unit fragment is only located (i) at the beginning of the payload or at the end of the payload or (ii) at the beginning of the payload and at the end of the payload. The header includes a single field consisting of a first bit and a second bit, even when a number of full service data units and service data unit fragments in the payload is more than two, the single field indicating whether (i) the payload begins with a fragment of a service data unit and (ii) the payload ends with a service data unit fragment. Digital signal processing circuitry processes the header to determine processing for the payload.

A receiver receives a data packet with a header and a payload. The payload includes at least one full service data unit, one or two service data unit fragments, or at least one full service data unit and at least one service data unit fragment, where a service data unit fragment is only located (i) at the beginning of the payload or at the end of the payload or (ii) at the beginning of the payload and at the end of the payload. The header includes a single field consisting of a first bit and a second bit, even when a number of full service data units and service data unit fragments in the payload is more than two, the single field indicating whether (i) the payload begins with a fragment of a service data unit and (ii) the payload ends with a service data unit fragment. Digital signal processing circuitry processes the header to determine processing for the payload.

A transmission method includes: generating one or more transfer frames that each store one or more streams used for content transfer; and transmitting the one or more generated frames through broadcast, each of the one or more streams storing one or more second transfer units, each of the one or more second transfer units storing one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units storing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets. In at least one stream among the one or more streams, each of the first transfer units positioned at a head contains reference clock information indicating time used for reproduction of the content.

A transmission method includes: generating one or more transfer frames that each store one or more streams used for content transfer; and transmitting the one or more generated frames through broadcast, each of the one or more streams storing one or more second transfer units, each of the one or more second transfer units storing one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units storing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets. In at least one stream among the one or more streams, each of the first transfer units positioned at a head contains reference clock information indicating time used for reproduction of the content.

A first fabric abstraction layer couples to a data link layer and a physical layer of a network fabric device. The network fabric device is connected to other network elements within a network via at least one network connection, such as a fiber optic connection. A second fabric abstraction layer couples to the data link layer and an application of the network device. The second fabric abstraction layer provides an application programming interface (API) to the application. The API allows the application to generate configuration instructions for configuring the at least one network connection. Upon receiving the configuration instructions generated by the application, the second abstraction layer sends the configuration instructions to the first abstraction layer via the data link layer. The first abstraction layer then configures the at least one network connection to transmit data according to the configuration instructions.

A first fabric abstraction layer couples to a data link layer and a physical layer of a network fabric device. The network fabric device is connected to other network elements within a network via at least one network connection, such as a fiber optic connection. A second fabric abstraction layer couples to the data link layer and an application of the network device. The second fabric abstraction layer provides an application programming interface (API) to the application. The API allows the application to generate configuration instructions for configuring the at least one network connection. Upon receiving the configuration instructions generated by the application, the second abstraction layer sends the configuration instructions to the first abstraction layer via the data link layer. The first abstraction layer then configures the at least one network connection to transmit data according to the configuration instructions.

A transmission method includes: generating one or more transfer frames that each store one or more streams used for content transfer; and transmitting the one or more generated frames through broadcast, each of the one or more streams storing one or more second transfer units, each of the one or more second transfer units storing one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units storing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets. In at least one stream among the one or more streams, each of the first transfer units positioned at a head contains reference clock information indicating time used for reproduction of the content.

A transmission method includes: generating one or more transfer frames that each store one or more streams used for content transfer; and transmitting the one or more generated frames through broadcast, each of the one or more streams storing one or more second transfer units, each of the one or more second transfer units storing one or more first transfer units, and each of the one or more first transfer units storing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets. In at least one stream among the one or more streams, each of the first transfer units positioned at a head contains reference clock information indicating time used for reproduction of the content.