Early HARQ Process Termination via UCI Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face inefficiencies in managing HARQ processes, leading to unnecessary resource consumption due to repeated data transmissions, which can be costly in terms of processing cycles, memory, and power, especially in scenarios with tight latency and reliability requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method where user equipment (UE) indicates the early termination of HARQ processes to a network node through uplink control information, allowing the network to refrain from scheduling retransmissions, thereby conserving resources by limiting data retransmissions based on a specified time period and bit indicators within the control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HARQ retransmission mechanism is implemented to ensure data reliability, then data transmission reliability is improved, but processing cycles, memory consumption, and power consumption increase due to repeated transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate early termination of HARQ processes before the normal retransmission timeline expires. The UE proactively signals the network node to stop scheduling retransmissions for specific HARQ processes, preventing unnecessary retransmissions that would consume additional power and resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the UE transmitting uplink control information (UCI) to the network node, indicating which HARQ processes should be terminated early. This feedback mechanism allows the network to adjust its scheduling decisions based on actual UE needs, stopping power-consuming retransmissions when not required.
2Reliability
If HARQ retransmission mechanism is implemented to ensure data reliability, then data transmission reliability is improved, but processing cycles and computational resources increase due to repeated transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary action by indicating early termination of HARQ processes before the network would normally schedule retransmissions. This proactive signaling prevents the network from allocating processing cycles to unnecessary retransmission scheduling, improving overall processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism through UCI transmission allows the network to receive real-time information about which HARQ processes should be terminated, enabling it to stop allocating computational resources to scheduling retransmissions for processes that no longer need them.
3Reliability
If HARQ retransmission mechanism is implemented to ensure data reliability, then data transmission reliability is improved, but memory resources are consumed due to buffering and processing repeated data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE signal early termination of HARQ processes before data retransmission buffering begins. This prevents the network from allocating memory resources to buffer and process repeated data that would never be transmitted, reducing overall memory consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism through UCI allows the network to receive indication of which HARQ processes should be terminated early, enabling it to stop allocating memory resources to buffering and processing retransmissions for those processes.
4Device complexity
If traditional HARQ process management is used without early termination indication, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but unnecessary retransmissions consume network resources and increase latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate early termination of HARQ processes before the normal retransmission timeline expires. This proactive signaling allows the network to stop scheduling retransmissions early, reducing latency for cases where retransmission is not needed, while adding minimal complexity through a simple indication mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
In an aspect, a UE may obtain a first indication of a time period in which UCI is to be transmitted, where the UCI includes at least one bit that indicates at least one HARQ process number of at least one first HARQ process that is to be terminated at the UE. The UE may transmit the UCI during the time period based on the first indication. The UE may refrain from transmitting of at least one transport block associated with the at least one first HARQ process based on the at least one bit in the UCI.