HARQ Sub-Buffer Allocation for Mixed TTI Wireless Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes for differing transmission time intervals (TTIs), particularly in LTE and NR technologies, which can lead to inefficient resource allocation and throughput reduction due to the complexity of handling multiple TTI lengths in soft buffers.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that dynamically allocates sub-buffers of varying sizes based on TTI lengths, allowing larger sub-buffers to overlap with smaller ones, enabling efficient allocation of resources and improving downlink throughput without increasing the size of the soft buffer, by using a higher-layer logic to reconfigure indexing according to traffic needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple TTI lengths are supported in HARQ processes, then system versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and resource management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ process adaptabilityVSAvoidsoft buffer management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The soft buffer is segmented into multiple sub-buffers, with each sub-buffer associated with a specific TTI length. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple TTI lengths simultaneously while maintaining organized and manageable buffer structures, resolving the complexity issue while preserving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sub-buffers of different sizes are nested within the overall soft buffer structure, where larger sub-buffers can contain or overlap with smaller ones. This nesting approach enables efficient space utilization and simplifies the management of multiple TTI lengths by hierarchical organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If sub-buffers of different sizes are allocated for different TTI lengths, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink throughputVSAvoidbuffer allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer allocation is made dynamic through higher-layer logic that can reconfigure indexing based on traffic needs. This allows the system to adaptively allocate sub-buffer sizes and positions according to actual traffic patterns, improving throughput while the higher-layer logic manages the complexity of dynamic reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes buffer parameters (size, position, indexing) based on TTI length requirements. By dynamically adjusting these parameters through higher-layer logic, the system achieves efficient resource utilization for different traffic types without requiring complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the soft buffer size is increased to accommodate multiple TTI lengths, then HARQ process versatility is improved, but device resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-TTI support capabilityVSAvoidsoft buffer memory size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sub-buffers of different sizes are merged into a unified soft buffer structure. This combining approach allows the system to support multiple TTI lengths while sharing the total buffer resources efficiently, avoiding the need for separate dedicated buffers for each TTI length and thus reducing total memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The soft buffer is designed as a universal structure that can serve multiple TTI length requirements simultaneously. Through proper segmentation and nesting of sub-buffers, a single soft buffer performs the function of supporting diverse HARQ processes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized buffers and reducing overall resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3580878B1Hybrid automatic repeat request management for differing types of hybrid automatic repeat request processes
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3580878B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3580878B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3580878B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may determine whether traffic received by the wireless communication device is associated with a first type of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process or a second type of HARQ process, and/or may allocate a sub-buffer for the traffic, wherein the sub-buffer is selected from a set of sub-buffers of a first size when the traffic is associated with the first type of HARQ process, wherein the sub-buffer is selected from a set of sub-buffers of a second size when the traffic is associated with the second type of HARQ process, and wherein at least one sub-buffer of the first size includes two or more sub-buffers of the second size.