LTE TCP-NC Operating Mode Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communications systems, such as LTE, consume excessive power and affect channel capacity due to error recovery schemes like ARQ and HARQ, even when error rates are low, especially when network coded transmission control protocol (TCP-NC) is used.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining if a user equipment (UE) is configured for TCP-NC and selecting appropriate operating modes for communications links, including scaling back or disabling channel error recovery schemes, selecting channels and signal modulations based on TCP-NC status, and adjusting MIMO configurations to optimize power usage and spectral efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If channel error recovery schemes (ARQ, HARQ) are enabled to ensure reliable transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and channel capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the error recovery scheme configuration based on TCP-NC status. When TCP-NC is detected, the system transitions from using ARQ/HARQ to relying on network-coded retransmissions, adapting the error recovery mechanism to the actual protocol being used and eliminating redundant operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the channel error recovery schemes (ARQ, HARQ) from the system when TCP-NC is in use. By taking out these redundant error recovery mechanisms, the system eliminates unnecessary power consumption while maintaining transmission reliability through TCP-NC's inherent error handling capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If channel error recovery schemes are enabled to maintain low error rates, then transmission reliability is improved, but channel capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror rateVSAvoidchannel capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches error recovery mechanisms based on TCP-NC detection. When TCP-NC is active, the patent transitions from channel-level error recovery to transport-layer error handling, optimizing channel capacity while maintaining reliability through protocol-appropriate error management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes channel error recovery schemes when TCP-NC is in use, extracting the redundant error handling function from the physical layer. This extraction increases channel capacity by eliminating retransmission overhead while TCP-NC maintains error rates at acceptable levels through its own retransmission mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If standard TCP with full error recovery is used, then transmission reliability is ensured, but power consumption and channel capacity are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation to TCP-NC protocol detection. When network-coded TCP is detected, the system dynamically adjusts error recovery configuration, switching from standard TCP error handling to TCP-NC optimized settings, thereby improving energy efficiency while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the error recovery parameters based on TCP-NC status. When TCP-NC is detected, the system modifies error recovery parameters by disabling ARQ/HARQ and adjusting retransmission settings, optimizing energy consumption while preserving transmission reliability through protocol-specific parameter tuning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2736188B1System and Method for Network Coded TCP in Long Term Evolution (LTE)
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 BROADCOM INC
  • EP2736188B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2736188B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2736188B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Apparatuses and methods are provided for determining operating modes of a communications link for a user equipment (UE) in a communications system based on whether the UE is configured for network coded transmission control protocol (TCP-NC). The operating modes can include physical layer channel error recovery, modulation, channel selection, among others. For example, physical layer channel error recovery can be scaled-back, or disabled, when TCP-NC is available because it is a redundant error recovery scheme. Accordingly, power can be saved, higher spectral efficiency can be achieved, and the user experience can be improved while the TCP-NC protocol recovers any data loss due to channel errors.