HARQ Parameter Configuration for Large-Delay Wireless Transmissions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Error control procedures in wireless networks with large propagation delays, such as non-terrestrial networks, face challenges due to increased memory requirements, reduced transport block sizes, and signaling overhead when multiple error control processes are activated, while disabling these procedures leads to packet loss and additional latency.

Innovation Solution

Configuring transmission parameters differently for subsets of hybrid ARQ (HARQ) processes based on feedback enablement, allowing for parallel transmissions with optimized parameters for reliability and latency, and using HARQ feedback codebooks to encode acknowledgments differently for enabled and disabled processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple error control processes are activated to cope with larger propagation delays, then the ability to handle large propagation delays is improved, but memory requirements increase, transport block size is reduced, and signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle large propagation delaysVSAvoidmemory requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments HARQ processes into two distinct subsets: a first subset with HARQ feedback disabled and a second subset with HARQ feedback enabled. This segmentation allows the system to handle different types of data transmissions with appropriate error control mechanisms, thereby coping with large propagation delays without requiring all processes to have full feedback functionality, reducing memory requirements while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parameter configurations are applied to different subsets of HARQ processes based on their specific needs. The first subset (feedback disabled) uses configurations optimized for latency-sensitive transmissions, while the second subset (feedback enabled) uses configurations optimized for reliability. This local quality approach allows each subset to operate with parameters tailored to its function, improving overall system performance without uniformly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple error control processes are activated to cope with larger propagation delays, then the ability to handle large propagation delays is improved, but transport block size is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle large propagation delaysVSAvoidtransport block size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting HARQ processes into feedback-disabled and feedback-enabled subsets, the patent enables larger transport blocks to be transmitted through the feedback-disabled subset without being constrained by the memory requirements associated with full feedback functionality in all processes. This segmentation allows the system to maintain larger transport block sizes while still handling large propagation delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple error control processes are activated to cope with larger propagation delays, then the ability to handle large propagation delays is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to handle large propagation delaysVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces signaling overhead by disabling HARQ feedback for the first subset of processes, thereby eliminating the need for acknowledgment signaling for these processes. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple processes with reduced signaling requirements, as only the second subset requires feedback signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If error control procedures are disabled to avoid memory requirements and signaling overhead, then device complexity is reduced, but packet loss occurs and higher layer retransmission protocols are triggered introducing additional latency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory requirementsVSAvoidpacket loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling HARQ feedback only for the second subset of processes that require high reliability, while disabling it for the first subset where latency is more critical. This selective approach ensures that reliability is maintained where needed without incurring the memory and signaling overhead for all processes, avoiding packet loss in critical transmissions while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

5Device complexity

If error control procedures are disabled to avoid memory requirements and signaling overhead, then device complexity is reduced, but latency increases due to higher layer retransmission protocols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory requirementsVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes latency by disabling HARQ feedback for the first subset of processes where low latency is the priority, accepting the trade-off of reduced error control. For the second subset where reliability is prioritized, HARQ feedback is enabled to prevent packet loss that would cause retransmissions and additional latency. This local quality approach ensures latency is minimized where speed is critical while maintaining reliability where error control is essential.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4718763A2Transmission parameter configuration
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4718763A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4718763A2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4718763A2 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

Embodiments include methods for a wireless device. Such methods can include receiving, from a network node in a wireless network, control signaling that indicates a parameter configuration for data transmissions, by the network node or by the wireless device, that are associated with a subset of a plurality of hybrid ARQ, HARQ, processes. The indicated parameter configuration can be one of a plurality of parameter configurations corresponding to a respective plurality of different subsets of the HARQ processes. The different subsets can include a first subset of one or more HARQ processes for which HARQ feedback is disabled, and a second subset of one or more HARQ processes for which HARQ feedback is enabled. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a network node in a wireless network, and wireless devices and network nodes configured to perform the respective methods.