HARQ Coordination for Multi-Transmitter Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retransmission mechanisms using Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) are poorly suited for dense, variable wireless coverage environments with overlapping coverage from multiple access points, as they are designed for single access point scenarios and struggle to efficiently manage data transmission and error correction in high-density access point deployments.
Innovation Solution
A method for a mobile device to receive and combine data transmissions from multiple access points by selecting an optimal access point, negotiating error correction and coding schemes, and using soft combining techniques to reconstruct data, allowing for efficient data transfer even in environments with diverse and overlapping wireless coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If present retransmission mechanisms using HARQ are used in dense wireless coverage environments with multiple access points, then error correction capability is maintained, but system complexity and difficulty of managing data transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission management by separating the roles of different access points. One access point is designated as the coordinating access point that manages the HARQ process, while other access points simply transmit data without full HARQ functionality. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on each individual access point while maintaining overall system reliability through coordinated error correction.
2Productivity
If multiple access points transmit data to mobile device, then data transfer efficiency improves, but coordination complexity and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinating access point performs multiple functions: it manages the HARQ process, coordinates retransmissions from other access points, and handles error correction. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve efficient data transfer from multiple access points while concentrating the coordination overhead on a single access point, thereby reducing total system energy consumption compared to having all access points perform full coordination functions.
3Reliability
If mobile device receives data from multiple access points, then signal quality improves, but difficulty of detecting and measuring data from different sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinating access point acts as an intermediary between the transmitting access points and the mobile device. It receives data from multiple access points, performs the necessary coordination and error correction, then forwards the processed data to the mobile device. This intermediary role simplifies the mobile device's task by presenting a single coordinated data stream rather than requiring the device to independently manage and detect data from multiple separate sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a receiving device, the method receiving an indication of pending data from an access network, the pending data including a sequence number for every unit of the pending data; and sending transmission instructions to a first transmitter within the access network, the transmission instructions including a range of sequence numbers desired by the receiving device and an error correction and coding scheme to be used by the first transmitter. Further, a receiving device having a processor; and a communications subsystem, wherein the processor and communications subsystem cooperate to receive a first stream from a first transmitter; receive a second stream from a second transmitter; and soft combine the first stream and the second stream at the receiving device.