Robust Header Compression (RoHC) serves for optimizing real time data by compressing the headers of multiple layers down to a minimum. Especially in wireless networks with high error probabilities and scarce resources, RoHC and RoHCv2 are the best choice to compress the overhead of IP, IPv6, UDP or RTP data.

3GPP has chosen RoHC and RoHCv2 for compression in 3G networks or LTE. For satellite systems, the robustness and compression ratio of RoHC or RoHCv2 are an important benefit to save cost in TDD transport.

RoHC follows a peer-to-peer concept, allows transporting the compressed data over any lower layer, and can be treated as a transparent compression entity that just eliminates overhead before it congests the network.

RoHC schematic

RoHC (RFC 4815 / RFC3095)

Applied for various wireless telecommunication networks, RoHC is an established standard for efficient elimination of header overhead. Robustness, proven to improve delay, jitter, and transmission quality made RoHC a requirement that must be met.

Following the initial concepts for RoHC to compress real time data, acticom provides uncompressed, IP, IP/UDP, IP/UDP/RTP, ESP, the IP-only profile (RFC 3843), and options to use LLA or PPP for both, IPv4 and IPv6.

RoHCv2 (RFC 5225)

RoHCv2 is the successor of RoHC. It does not replace or obsolete RoHC, but extends the basic set of compression profiles and is in fact a new compression scheme.

acticom provides, uncompressed, IP, IP/UDP, IP/UDP/RTP, IP/UDPlite, IP/UDPlite/RTP, and ESP compression profiles for IPv4 and IPv6. Required parameters can be controlled through a rich but simple API. Options to integrate the procol stack comprise statistics gathering, debugging and info modes for testing, logging capabilities, and always the option to work with acticom to fulfill specific requirements on platform, product, or even API for integration.

Availability: Now

All versions of acticom Robust Header Compression are available now. RoHC has been licensed to and deployed by various customers around the globe. It was updated to the latest specifications and requirements. RoHCv2 has already been integrated and deployed for LTE, Test & Measurement systems, and provides a complete feature set following the main specifications in RFCs 4815 (3095), 3843, 5225, 5795 (4995), and others.

Simple Licensing

acticom offers simple and straightforward licensing for RoHC and RoHCv2 protocol software. A single license covering both versions, or just the chosen version. The software, support, and deliverable options are equal. The license grants all necessary rights to integrate the software, modify and port as required, and distribute with the chosen products.

Source code is always included, along with initial integration support, and documentation.

Options to extend the software by additional compression profiles or specific modifications should not affect the license and granted flexibility to use the software, thus add-ons are always following the basic, simple acticom one time license model.

How we work with our customers

Your product and time to market is the driver for our cooperation with you. acticom supports you and your team from day one after delivering the source code to your engineers.

Providing example applications, API manuals, and test cases allows for immediately starting the integration process.

Our team of software engineers closely works with your team to achieve fast integration and test with your platform. Dedicated contacts at acticom provide a quick turn-around time for reqeuests sent by your engineering team.

Our products are proven and tested. We are delivering RoHC since 2001 and RoHCv2 since 2012 to our customers. Applications of RoHC and RoHCv2 for EVDO, 3G, LTE, Satellite systems, and especially Test & Measurement systems have made the acticom RoHC protocol stacks to a de-facto standard in the area of Header Compression.

Support does not end with successful integration – we provide ongoing support, updates and upgrades of the existing protocol stack software, and continue working with our customers to ensure the chosen Header Compression keeps up-to-date with changing standards and requirements.