Codeword Overlay Encoding for Low-Latency Wireless ACK Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face high latency issues, particularly in VoIP and real-time video streaming, due to the polling mechanism in Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) protocols, which is spectrally inefficient and incompatible with legacy mobile stations, leading to suboptimal performance in low latency applications.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves utilizing the Relative Reserved Block Period (RRBP) field in GPRS/EDGE networks to convey acknowledgement information, allowing for reduced latency by encoding additional data onto a portion of the codeword using error correcting codes, such as cyclic redundancy codes, and configuring the RRBP field to transmit ACK/NACK messages efficiently, even in the absence of continuous bi-directional data flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If polling mechanism is used for HARQ in EGPRS, then latency is reduced, but spectral efficiency deteriorates and compatibility with legacy mobile stations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ACK/NACK messages with uplink data transmissions by encoding them in the RRBP field of existing uplink blocks. This merging eliminates the need for separate polling messages, reducing latency while maintaining spectral efficiency and compatibility with legacy terminals that can ignore the encoded ACK/NACK information.
Solution Approach 2:
The RRBP field, originally designed for scheduling purposes in EGPRS, is made multi-functional by encoding ACK/NACK messages within it. This allows the same field to serve both scheduling and acknowledgment functions, enabling low-latency HARQ without requiring new dedicated message structures or continuous polling mechanisms.
2Loss of time
If continuous polling is implemented to guarantee low latency, then latency is reduced, but spectral efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous polling, the patent uses periodic uplink data transmissions as carriers for ACK/NACK messages. The acknowledgment information is embedded in periodically occurring uplink blocks, eliminating the need for continuous polling while maintaining low latency through the periodic availability of transmission opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by encoding ACK/NACK messages in every uplink data transmission opportunity rather than requiring separate polling actions. This continuity eliminates wasted spectral resources on dedicated polling messages while maintaining uninterrupted HARQ operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HARQ is disabled to support legacy mobile stations, then compatibility is maintained, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding scheme where ACK/NACK messages are embedded in the RRBP field of uplink blocks. Legacy mobile stations can ignore this encoded information, while advanced terminals can decode and utilize it, thus mediating between compatibility requirements and low-latency HARQ performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making ACK/NACK encoding optional and terminal-specific. Advanced terminals are configured to decode and process the encoded ACK/NACK information in the RRBP field, while legacy terminals simply ignore it. This localized application of the feature allows compatibility to be maintained for legacy devices while enabling low-latency HARQ for advanced devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication network entity 400 and a method therein wherein data is encoded using an error correcting code to form a first codeword, for example, a cyclic redundancy code, including redundancy. A second codeword is generated by encoding additional data on a portion of the first codeword, wherein the portion of the first codeword on which the additional data is encoded being within an error correction capability of the first codeword.