Acknowledgment Packet Transmission for Reliable Data Retransmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
In reliable transport protocols like TCP, the inability to specify which data packets need to be retransmitted leads to inefficient retransmission processes, causing resource waste due to the need to wait for and retransmit all subsequent packets when a single packet is lost, or wasting traffic by retransmitting unnecessary packets.
Innovation Solution
An acknowledgment packet transmission method that includes a field specifying the start location and length of groups of data packets, allowing the receiving device to dynamically adjust the indication of retransmitted packets, thereby reducing resource waste and improving bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data packets sent after a lost packet are retransmitted, then retransmission completeness is improved, but bandwidth waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the retransmission process by introducing an acknowledgment field that identifies specific lost packets rather than triggering retransmission of all subsequent packets. This allows the system to divide the retransmission task into individual packet segments that need to be resent, rather than treating all subsequent packets as a single block that must be retransmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the acknowledgment packet that provides specific information about which data packets were lost. The acknowledgment field contains identifiers of lost packets, enabling the transmit end to receive feedback about actual transmission status and adjust retransmission accordingly, rather than using a blanket retransmission approach.
2Loss of energy
If only the lost packet is retransmitted, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but retransmission reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism in the acknowledgment packet ensures that the transmit end receives accurate information about which specific packets were lost. This feedback allows the system to reliably identify and retransmit only the necessary packets, maintaining reliability while improving bandwidth efficiency compared to blanket retransmission approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability in the retransmission process by allowing the acknowledgment packet to carry variable information about lost packets. The system can dynamically adjust the retransmission scope based on actual transmission conditions, rather than following a fixed retransmission pattern, thereby optimizing both reliability and efficiency.
3Device complexity
If acknowledgment packet includes only acknowledgment sequence number, then packet structure simplicity is improved, but retransmission specification capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the acknowledgment sequence number function with an additional acknowledgment field that specifies lost packets. By combining these functions into a single packet structure, the system maintains relative simplicity while adding the capability to specify which packets need retransmission, rather than requiring separate signaling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The acknowledgment packet is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it continues to provide acknowledgment of received packets through the sequence number while also identifying lost packets through the acknowledgment field. This multi-functionality allows a single packet structure to handle both acknowledgment and retransmission specification tasks.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides an acknowledgment packet transmission method and a communications device. The method includes: receiving, by a first device, data sent by a second device; sending, by the first device, the acknowledgment packet to the second device, where the acknowledgment packet includes an acknowledgment field, the acknowledgment field carries data lengths of K groups of data packets, and the data lengths vary with a data amount included in each group of data packets received/lost by the first device. In the foregoing technical solution, the acknowledgment field is carried in the acknowledgment packet to explicitly indicate a data packet that needs to be retransmitted by the second device, so that a resource waste can be reduced. In addition, a quantity of bytes required for representing a group of data packets is dynamically adjusted based on a data length of each group of data packets, so that the acknowledgment packet occupies relatively small space. In this way, bandwidth utilization is improved.