MAC-hx Sub-layer Concatenation for HSDPA Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current HSDPA systems in 3GPP wireless CDMA networks are limited by the ability to transmit only a single MAC-hs PDU per transmission time interval (TTI), restricting the handling of multiple priority queues and leading to inefficiencies in resource utilization and latency.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a MAC-hx sub-layer that allows concatenation of multiple MAC-hs PDUs into a single MAC-hx PDU, with a header indicating the size of each packet, enabling transmission of multiple priority levels in a single TTI and efficient use of communication resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If only a single MAC-hs PDU is transmitted per TTI, then the system maintains simplicity in protocol structure and compatibility with existing specifications, but the system cannot efficiently handle multiple priority queues and suffers from reduced throughput and increased latency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidprotocol structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MAC-hs PDU transmission by introducing a MAC-hx PDU that can contain multiple MAC-hs PDUs as separate entities. Each MAC-hs PDU within the MAC-hx PDU maintains its original structure and handling characteristics, allowing the system to process multiple priority queues simultaneously while preserving the simplicity of individual PDU structures. This segmentation enables higher throughput without fundamentally changing the underlying MAC-hs protocol architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple MAC-hs PDUs are concatenated into a single transmission, then the system can serve multiple priority levels simultaneously and improve resource utilization, but the system increases complexity in packet structure and header management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidpacket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested structure where multiple MAC-hs PDUs are embedded within a single MAC-hx PDU. The outer MAC-hx PDU provides a container structure with its own header, while the inner MAC-hs PDUs maintain their original headers and structures. This nesting allows the system to transmit multiple priority queues in a single TTI, improving resource utilization while keeping the complexity of individual MAC-hs PDUs unchanged and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Loss of time

If a single priority queue is transmitted per TTI, then the system maintains simplicity in scheduling and queue management, but the system experiences increased latency for lower priority data and reduced efficiency in downlink resource usage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidqueue management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple priority queues into a single MAC-hx PDU transmission unit. By combining MAC-hs PDUs from different priority queues (e.g., high priority and low priority) into one MAC-hx PDU that can be transmitted in a single TTI, the system reduces the latency that would otherwise occur when lower priority data has to wait for separate transmission opportunities. The queue management complexity is handled at the MAC-hx layer without affecting the underlying MAC-hs scheduling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3454598B1Methods, apparatus, computer program product and integrated crcuit for high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) communications
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3454598B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3454598B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3454598B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method for receiving a high speed downlink packet access, HSDPA, communication is provided. The method comprises receiving a multiplexed data packet (500) on a downlink channel, wherein the multiplexed data packet comprises multiple data packets (515-525) concatenated from multiple priority queues of data packets; and processing (720) a header (510) of the multiplexed data packet, wherein the header comprises an indication (535) of a number of data packets in the multiplexed data packet and an indication (540) of a size of each of the multiple data packets.