Block-Based Packet Retransmission for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet retransmission methods in wired/wireless networks are inefficient due to high overhead and complexity, particularly affecting subminiature devices like sensor nodes, as they require explicit acknowledgement (ACK) for each packet, leading to decreased data packet transmission rates and increased calculation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a sequence ID-based approach to detect packet continuity and discontinuity, allowing for the transmission of a single Explicit Block NACK (EBN) for retransmitting lost packets in units of blocks, reducing the need for individual packet acknowledgments and overhead, and enabling efficient retransmission without waiting for ACK signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If explicit ACK is transmitted for each packet, then packet retransmission reliability is improved, but data packet transmission rate decreases and overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual ACK messages into a single block ACK message that acknowledges multiple packets simultaneously. The reception apparatus transmits a block ACK containing acknowledgment information for multiple packets (e.g., packets 10-20, 23-30) in one message, reducing the number of control packets from many individual ACKs to just a few block ACKs, thereby improving data packet transmission rate while maintaining retransmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the acknowledgment process into reception blocks that group consecutive packets together. Each reception block is identified by start and end sequence IDs (e.g., reception block 120: packets 10-20, reception block 130: packets 23-30), allowing the system to manage and acknowledge packets in organized segments rather than individually, reducing overhead while ensuring reliable retransmission
2Productivity
If ACK algorithm is made complex to increase packet transmission rate, then packet transmission rate is improved, but overhead calculation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the acknowledgment mechanism by introducing reception blocks defined by start and end sequence IDs, and by using a bitmap format to represent acknowledgment status. This allows the system to achieve high packet transmission rates through efficient block-based processing while keeping the calculation complexity manageable through standardized parameter structures that can be processed with simple comparisons and bit manipulations
3Loss of time
If block ACK with compressed bitmap format is used, then transmission time and error probability are reduced, but calculation complexity increases due to compression algorithm and bitmap manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a bitmap format where each bit represents the acknowledgment status of a packet within a reception block. This parameter representation allows efficient packing of multiple acknowledgment states into a compact structure, reducing transmission time and error probability while enabling simple bit-level processing that avoids complex compression algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified representation of packet acknowledgment status through the bitmap structure, copying the essential acknowledgment information in a compact form. This allows the system to transmit and process acknowledgment information efficiently without requiring complex compression algorithms, as the bitmap itself is already an optimized representation of the acknowledgment states
Data Source
AI summary
Provided a method and device for efficiently retransmitting packets of which transmissions failed in wired/wireless network including detecting continuity by detecting whether or not a sequence ID of a received packet is continuous with a start sequence ID or an end sequence ID of packets included in reception blocks which are generated in advance of the received packet; depending on the result of the detection, manipulating reception blocks to renew or delete the reception blocks or generate a new reception block by using the sequence ID of the received packet; and transmitting an EBN (Explicit Block NACK) for requesting retransmission of lost packets in units of a block when discontinuity is detected.