HARQ Interleaving Sequence Variation for Wi-Fi Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 802.11 wireless communication standards lack support for Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), which limits the effectiveness of retransmissions due to the absence of frequency diversity, as the same interleaving sequence is used for all transmissions, resulting in limited noise averaging and diversity gains.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a transmitting device and receiving device that change the interleaving sequence between retransmissions, allowing bits/QAMs to experience a different channel, thereby introducing frequency diversity and improving performance through HARQ combining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the same interleaving sequence is used for all transmissions, then the system maintains simplicity and compatibility with existing 802.11 standards, but frequency diversity and noise averaging benefits are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket detection probabilityVSAvoidinterleaving sequence management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the interleaving sequence variable rather than static. Different interleaving sequences are used for initial transmission and retransmissions, allowing the system to adapt to changing channel conditions and achieve frequency diversity without requiring complex reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the interleaving sequence parameter between transmissions. By varying this parameter, the system achieves frequency diversity and improves noise averaging, directly enhancing packet detection probability while maintaining compatibility with existing 802.11 frameworks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If HARQ combining is implemented without changing interleaving sequences, then the receiving device can store and combine LLRs, but the diversity gain is limited due to identical channel experience

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSNR at receiverVSAvoidfrequency diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics by changing the interleving sequence between initial transmission and retransmission. This allows the same data to experience different frequency mappings and channel conditions, providing the adaptability needed for frequency diversity while enabling effective HARQ combining at the receiver

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent varies the interleving sequence parameter across transmissions. This parameter change ensures that retransmissions experience different channel characteristics, providing both the adaptability for frequency diversity and the improved SNR needed for reliable packet detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If retransmissions use identical interleaving as initial transmission, then implementation is straightforward, but thermal noise cannot be effectively averaged and diversity gains are minimal

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidthermal noise impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing different interleving sequences for initial transmission and retransmissions. This dynamic approach allows thermal noise to be averaged across different frequency mappings, reducing its impact and improving throughput through more successful packet detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the interleving sequence parameter between transmissions to enable effective noise averaging. By varying this parameter, the system reduces thermal noise impact and achieves the productivity improvements needed for higher throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3868044B1Devices and methods for supporting HARQ for IEEE 802.11
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3868044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3868044B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3868044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) in wireless communication technologies, particularly HARQ for IEEE 802.11, i.e. HARQ for Wi-Fi. To this end, the invention proposes a transmitting device and a receiving device, respectively, both configured to support such HARQ in Wi-Fi. The transmitting device is configured to: select a first interleaving sequence; interleave a data unit using the first interleaving sequence to obtain a first interleaved data unit to be transmitted to a receiving device. Accordingly, the receiving device is configured to: receive a first interleaved data unit; select a first de-interleaving sequence according to a first interleaving sequence; and de-interleave the first interleaved data unit using the first de-interleaving sequence to obtain the data unit.