ARQ Signal Power Boosting for LTE Uplink Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE networks, the misinterpretation of acknowledgment (ack) signals as non-acknowledgment (nack) signals leads to erroneous retransmissions, causing interference and latency, particularly when larger uplink resources are allocated, as existing power distribution methods do not adequately ensure the reliability of ack signals.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves boosting the power of acknowledgment signals for transmissions with larger uplink resource allocations and biasing the ARQ signal evaluations to favor ack decisions, thereby enhancing the reliability of ack signals and reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uniform power distribution is used for ARQ signals, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of ack signals deteriorates when larger uplink resources are allocated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of ack signalsVSAvoidpower distribution complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating power distribution based on the specific characteristics of each ARQ signal. Instead of uniform power allocation, the system assigns higher power to ack signals corresponding to larger uplink resource allocations, thereby locally optimizing reliability where it is most needed while maintaining manageable complexity through rule-based differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If ack signal power is increased for all transmissions, then reliability of ack signals is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of ack signalsVSAvoidenergy consumption for ARQ signaling
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the power level of ack signals based on the uplink resource allocation size. The system changes the power parameter selectively - increasing it only for ack signals associated with larger resource allocations - rather than maintaining a consistently high power level for all ARQ signals, thus optimizing reliability while controlling energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If misinterpretation of ack signals is reduced, then productivity of wireless network is improved, but device complexity increases due to biased evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidARQ signal evaluation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring biased evaluation thresholds for ack signals before actual signal reception and evaluation. The system prepares the decision-making criteria in advance based on expected signal characteristics and resource allocation patterns, allowing the receiver to quickly apply the bias without complex real-time calculations, thus improving productivity while limiting the increase in operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2449712B1A method and apparatus for ARQ control in wireless communications
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2449712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2449712B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2449712B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In one or more aspects, the method and apparatus presented herein consider corresponding uplink resource allocations when allocating ARQ signal powers. In particular, in at least one embodiment, more power is allocated to the acknowledgment ("ack") signal(s) corresponding to user equipment (UE) transmissions that involve larger allocations of uplink resources. For the example context of an LTE network, an eNodeB "boosts" its ack signaling power for acknowledging UE transmissions associated with larger uplink bandwidth allocations. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE is configured to bias its ARQ signal evaluations, to bias its ack/nack decision determinations to favor the ack decision, at least for those acks associat