HARQ Process Segmentation for Bundled Data Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In radio communication systems, bundled data blocks are often discarded if one block is poorly received, even if others in the bundle are received correctly, due to the lack of individual HARQ processes for each block, leading to inefficient resource utilization and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method in a radio receiver arrangement to apply a single HARQ process to bundled data blocks, allowing for the identification of correctly received blocks and generating a NAK only for the incorrectly received blocks, thereby enabling the reuse of correctly received symbols to reduce interference and conserve processing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single HARQ process is used for bundled transport blocks, then signaling between base station and user equipment is reduced, but correctly received blocks are discarded when any block in the bundle is poorly received
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bundled transport blocks into individual HARQ processes, allowing each block to be acknowledged separately. This enables the receiver to identify and retain correctly received blocks while only requesting retransmission of poorly received blocks, rather than discarding all blocks in the bundle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where correctly received blocks are recovered and retained in the buffer, while only the poorly received blocks are marked for retransmission. This prevents the loss of correctly received data and reduces the need for retransmission, thereby saving power.
2Device complexity
If a single HARQ process is used for bundled transport blocks, then control channel design is simplified, but all blocks in the bundle must be retransmitted if any block is poorly received
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single HARQ process into multiple independent HARQ processes, one for each transport block. This segmentation allows selective acknowledgment and retransmission of only the necessary blocks, improving resource utilization efficiency without significantly complicating the control channel design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic HARQ process management where the number and allocation of HARQ processes can adapt to the number of bundled transport blocks. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain simplified control channel design when blocks are bundled while enabling selective retransmission when needed, thus improving productivity.
3Device complexity
If bundled blocks are used in MIMO systems, then the number of HARQ processes is reduced, but individual block reception status cannot be tracked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments each transport block into a separate HARQ process within the MIMO system, enabling individual tracking of reception status for each block. This allows the receiver to identify which specific blocks were correctly received and which require retransmission, maintaining low complexity while preserving reception status information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements enhanced feedback mechanisms where the receiver sends individual acknowledgment status for each transport block to the transmitter. This feedback enables the transmitter to understand the reception status of each block and perform selective retransmission, reducing the number of HARQ processes needed while maintaining full visibility of block reception status.
Data Source
AI summary
A method in a radio receiver arrangement for receiving data blocks of radio signalling. The method comprises receiving a plurality of data blocks over a radio interface from a transmitting side. The method also comprises applying a single hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process to the plurality of data blocks, whereby it is determined that at least one of the plurality of data blocks has been received ok and that at least one of the plurality of data blocks has not been received ok. The method also comprises generating a negative acknowledgement (NAK) for the plurality of data blocks in response to the at least one of the plurality of data blocks having not been received ok. The method also comprises outputting, from the receiver arrangement, at least one symbol obtained from the at least one of the plurality of data blocks which has been received ok.