Mixed HARQ Acknowledgment Bundling for Wireless Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack customization for efficient operation in acknowledging received transmissions, particularly in mixed scenarios of pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgments, which affects the flexibility and reliability of communication networks.

Innovation Solution

The system enables a receiving entity to transmit a mixture of pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgments by either fixed partitioning or dynamic determination of acknowledgment types, allowing for bundling or separate transmission based on independent rules and resource allocations, and includes mechanisms for dynamic Ack repetition to ensure reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgments are transmitted separately using independent rules and resource allocations, then the system maintains simplicity and reliability for each acknowledgment type, but the device complexity and scheduling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacknowledgment transmission reliabilityVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgments into a single bundled transmission when their timing coincides within a predetermined duration range. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of separate handling while reducing scheduling complexity by treating multiple acknowledgment types as a unified transmission event, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines whether to bundle or separate acknowledgment transmissions based on timing conditions and configuration parameters. When pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgments fall within the predetermined duration range, they are bundled; otherwise, they are transmitted separately. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying conditions, optimizing both reliability and complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses fixed partitioning or dynamic determination of acknowledgment types, then the adaptability and flexibility improve, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacknowledgment strategy flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration of acknowledgment bundling parameters, including the predetermined duration range and bundling conditions, before actual transmission occurs. This pre-configuration enables faster runtime decisions by eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining high adaptability while reducing processing time during actual acknowledgment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters such as the predetermined duration range and bundling conditions based on channel conditions, traffic patterns, and QoS requirements. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high adaptability without requiring complete reprocessing of acknowledgment logic, thereby balancing flexibility with processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If acknowledgments are bundled within a predetermined duration range, then the transmission efficiency and resource utilization improve, but the risk of transmission loss in challenging radio conditions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidrobustness against transmission losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements acknowledgment repetition mechanisms as a protective measure against transmission losses. When bundling is used, the system can transmit repeated acknowledgment instances at different time points or using different resources, providing cushioning against potential failures. This approach maintains the efficiency benefits of bundling while mitigating the increased risk of transmission loss through redundant transmission strategies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3613165B1Pre-timed and on-demand HARQ ACK feedback
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3613165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3613165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3613165B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described are methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums of enabling transmission of feedback for a mixture of pre-timed and on-demand acknowledgements. In an example, an apparatus receives a first transmission and a second transmission. The apparatus determines that the first transmission is associated with pre-timed acknowledgement rules and also determines that the second transmission is associated with on-demand acknowledgement rules. The apparatus transmits a first acknowledgement of the first transmission according to the pre-timed acknowledgement rules and transmits a second acknowledgement of the second transmission according to the on-demand acknowledgement rules.