Backhaul Relay HARQ Control for Coverage and Load Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems fail to effectively increase relay system coverage while employing power saving mechanisms for relay stations and lack procedures for managing load conditions such as data and acknowledgment packets.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes a base station and relay station capable of transmitting and receiving multiple Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processes in a subframe, with each process corresponding to a different HARQ process, allowing for efficient management of load conditions and power saving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If relay stations employ power saving mechanisms, then energy consumption is reduced, but relay system coverage cannot be effectively increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower savingVSAvoidrelay system coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The relay system segments HARQ processes into multiple independent processes (first HARQ process and second HARQ process), allowing parallel transmission of data blocks. This enables the relay station to maintain active communication channels for coverage extension while entering low-power states during idle periods, thus resolving the contradiction between power saving and coverage expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By implementing multiple HARQ processes that can operate in parallel, the system ensures continuous data transmission and acknowledgment handling. The relay station can process multiple data blocks simultaneously across different HARQ processes, maintaining uninterrupted communication for coverage extension while optimizing power consumption through efficient resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Productivity

If multiple HARQ processes are transmitted in a single subframe, then load condition management is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload condition managementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the subframe into multiple distinct HARQ processes, each handling specific data blocks independently. The first HARQ process and second HARQ process are clearly delineated with separate acknowledgment handling, which simplifies the management of load conditions by allowing independent processing and optimization of each process while maintaining overall system coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2425547B1Control design for backhaul relay to support multiple HARQ processes
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2425547B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2425547B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2425547B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A wireless communication network includes a base station and a relay station. The relay station is configured to relay communications between the base station and at least one subscriber station. The base station is configured to communicate with the subscriber station via the relay station. The base station further is configured to transmit, in a subframe, a plurality of transport blocks for a plurality of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processes to the relay station. Each transport block corresponds to a different HARQ process.