Hierarchical HARQ Feedback for Lower 5G Retransmission Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HARQ feedback mechanisms in 5G communication systems face inefficiencies in feedback overhead due to the large number of resource units, leading to excessive data retransmission and reduced transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback method that generates feedback information based on resource units using a pre-configured policy, binding feedback information units to multiple levels, allowing for reduced feedback overhead by reflecting data reception states with varying granularities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If feedback information is provided for each resource unit individually, then measurement precision of transmission errors is improved, but feedback overhead increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission error detection accuracyVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments feedback information into multiple levels: first-level feedback information provides coarse-grained status for groups of resource units, while second-level feedback information provides fine-grained status for individual resource units. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate error detection while controlling feedback overhead by only providing detailed feedback when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to feedback information, organizing it into multiple levels (first-level and second-level feedback). This dimensional organization allows the system to represent transmission status efficiently by combining coarse and fine-grained information, reducing the total amount of feedback required while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If retransmission is performed with fine granularity (CBG level), then manufacturing precision of retransmission is improved, but loss of time increases due to more feedback processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretransmission accuracyVSAvoidfeedback processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments feedback into hierarchical levels where first-level feedback provides quick coarse-grained status determination, and second-level feedback provides detailed fine-grained status only when needed. This segmentation enables fast initial assessment of transmission status, reducing feedback processing time while maintaining the ability to achieve precise retransmission at the CBG level when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial feedback action by providing second-level fine-grained feedback information only for resource units that require it, rather than providing complete detailed feedback for all resource units. This partial action approach reduces overall feedback processing time while still achieving the necessary retransmission accuracy for problematic segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3621231B1HARQ feedback method and apparatus, device, and computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3621231B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3621231B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3621231B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a HARQ feedback method and apparatus, device and computer readable storage medium. The HAQR feedback method comprises: receiving data sent by a sending end in units of transport blocks (TBs), one TB comprising multiple resource untis; and generating resource unit-based HARQ feedback information according to a pre-configured HARQ feedback policy, and returning the HARQ feedback information to the sending end, the number of feedback information units of the feedback information being less than the number of resource units contained in the TBs. In embodiments of the present disclosure, resource unit-based HARQ feedback information is generated according to a pre-configured HARQ feedback policy, such that the number of feedback information units fo the HARQ feedback information is less than the number of resource units contained in TBs, thereby reducing feedback overhead.