HARQ Process Allocation via RNC Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protocols do not specify how to determine the total number of soft channel bits for User Equipment (UE) when downgrading its capability category, leading to inaccurate allocation of HARQ processes and reduced system performance.

Innovation Solution

A method where the Radio Network Controller (RNC) sends a notification message to the Node B with the downgraded capability category of the UE, indicating whether to use an explicit or implicit way of allocating HARQ processes, ensuring accurate allocation based on the total number of soft channel bits corresponding to the downgraded category.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the RNC actively downgrades the UE capability category without protocol specification, then the total number of soft channel bits cannot be determined accurately, but the system can still attempt to allocate HARQ processes with reduced performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability category downgrade flexibilityVSAvoidtotal number of soft channel bits determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The RNC sends a notification message to the Node B containing the downgraded capability category information, enabling the Node B to obtain accurate total number of soft channel bits based on the notified category. This feedback mechanism resolves the uncertainty caused by active downgrade while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The notification message acts as an intermediary carrier that transmits the downgraded capability category information from the RNC to the Node B. This intermediary enables accurate determination of soft channel bits without requiring direct protocol specification for all downgrade scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the Node B allocates HARQ processes without accurate total number of soft channel bits, then the allocation process can proceed, but the process memory size becomes inaccurate leading to reduced system performance

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ process allocation speedVSAvoidprocess memory size allocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The RNC performs preliminary action by notifying the Node B of the downgraded capability category before the Node B allocates HARQ processes. This advance notification enables the Node B to calculate the accurate total number of soft channel bits and allocate process memory size correctly, ensuring both speed and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the Node B and UE use different process memory sizes for HARQ processes, then the allocation can be made independently, but decoding errors occur due to inconsistency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent allocation flexibilityVSAvoiddecoding success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification message ensures homogeneity by providing the Node B with the same downgraded capability category information that the UE uses. Both the Node B and UE calculate the total number of soft channel bits and process memory size based on this consistent information, eliminating inconsistencies that cause decoding errors while maintaining independent allocation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentEP2597918B1Method and device for allocating hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 ZTE CORP
  • EP2597918B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2597918B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2597918B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The disclosure discloses a method and device for allocating Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processes. The method comprises: a Radio Network Controller (RNC) transmits a notification message carrying a downgraded capability category of a User Equipment (UE) to a Node B; and the Node B allocates HARQ processes for the UE by using a total number of soft channel bits corresponding to the downgraded capability category. The disclosure improves the accuracy of the allocation, thus improving the system performance.