HARQ Feedback Configuration for Lower-Power Wireless Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing power consumption and unnecessary HARQ feedback overheads, particularly in terminal devices, due to inefficient HARQ feedback mechanisms in diverse service scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that allows for flexible HARQ feedback by determining and adapting the feedback manner based on service requirements, including skipping ACK or NACK feedback for specific HARQ processes, thereby reducing unnecessary overheads and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional HARQ feedback mechanism is used, then transmission reliability is ensured, but power consumption of terminal device increases and unnecessary feedback overheads are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption of terminal device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the HARQ feedback mechanism adaptable and changeable based on service requirements. The network device configures different feedback manners (first feedback manner with ACK/NACK, second feedback manner without feedback) dynamically according to service types, allowing the system to transition between feedback and no-feedback states optimally, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the feedback parameter (whether to send HARQ feedback) based on service characteristics. By configuring different feedback manners for different services, the system adjusts the feedback parameter dynamically - using full feedback for reliability-critical services and no feedback for power-sensitive services, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional HARQ feedback mechanism is used, then transmission reliability is ensured, but feedback overheads increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidfeedback overheads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the HARQ feedback process from the communication system for certain services where it is not critical. By removing the feedback mechanism for specific service types (using second feedback manner), the system eliminates unnecessary feedback overheads while maintaining reliability for services that require it, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and feedback quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If flexible HARQ feedback is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption of terminal deviceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring different feedback manners through network configuration messages before actual data transmission. The network device sends configuration information indicating which feedback manner to use for different services, allowing terminal devices to prepare in advance and avoid complex real-time decisions, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining flexibility and power savings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4087168B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4087168B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4087168B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP4087168B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a communication method and an apparatus. The method includes: A network device sends first information to a terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine a HARQ feedback manner based on the first information, where the HARQ feedback manner may include skipping ACK feedback and/or NACK feedback. In this manner, the network device controls the HARQ feedback manner used by the terminal device, so that the terminal device can be flexibly controlled to use different HARQ feedback manners in different scenarios, to adapt to a service requirement, effectively reduce power consumption of the terminal device, and save air interface resources.