HARQ Acknowledgement Resource Allocation in Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in handling hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement messages, leading to increased overhead and reduced capacity in uplink transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A method where the network selects communication devices based on specified rules and always responds with positive HARQ acknowledgement messages via physical indicator channels (PHICHs), dynamically deciding resources to minimize retransmissions and reduce acknowledgement transmission overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network transmits HARQ acknowledgement messages for all uplink transmissions, then reliability of uplink communication is improved, but overhead of acknowledgement transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of uplink communicationVSAvoidoverhead of acknowledgement transmissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting HARQ acknowledgement messages selectively rather than for all uplink transmissions. The network determines whether to transmit HARQ ACK based on whether the uplink transmission was successfully received, applying the acknowledgement action only when necessary (i.e., when retransmission is needed), thereby reducing overall overhead while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Quantity of substance

If the network transmits HARQ acknowledgement messages for all uplink transmissions, then capacity of acknowledgement transmissions is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity of acknowledgement transmissionsVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by limiting HARQ acknowledgement message transmissions to only those cases where the uplink transmission requires confirmation or retransmission. This selective approach maintains the necessary capacity for acknowledgement transmissions while avoiding the waste of radio resources that would occur if acknowledgements were transmitted for every uplink transmission regardless of need.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If the network selectively transmits HARQ acknowledgement messages, then overhead of acknowledgement transmissions is reduced, but reliability of uplink communication may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverhead of acknowledgement transmissionsVSAvoidreliability of uplink communication
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network evaluates the outcome of each uplink transmission and determines whether HARQ acknowledgement message transmission is necessary. This feedback-based selective transmission ensures that acknowledgements are sent only when the uplink transmission was not successfully received, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overhead. The feedback loop closes the communication cycle by providing necessary confirmation or error indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2613470B1Method of handling hybrid automatic repeat request resources in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 ACER INC
  • EP2613470B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2613470B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2613470B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of handling hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), acknowledgement responses in a network of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a plurality of communication devices of the wireless communication system when the plurality of communication devices conform to a specified rule (302); and always responding positive HARQ acknowledgement messages to the plurality of communication devices (304).