Mobile Network EGI Signaling for Downlink Acknowledgment Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing acknowledgement signaling for diverse devices with varying data traffic profiles and latency/reliability requirements, particularly in scenarios involving high-priority and low-priority transmissions, leading to misalignment in the number of acknowledgement feedbacks sent by the user equipment (UE) and the base station, which can result in unnecessary retransmissions and reduced network efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an Ending Grant Indicator (EGI) in association with the last N downlink transmissions to help the UE accurately determine missed transmissions, allowing it to provide correct acknowledgement information to the network node, thereby reducing misalignment and improving network efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the network node transmits multiple downlink transmissions to diverse devices with varying data traffic profiles, then the network can support a wider range of applications and devices, but misalignment in acknowledgement feedback occurs between the base station and UE

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for diverse devices and applicationsVSAvoidacknowledgement feedback alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE monitors downlink transmissions and sends acknowledgement feedback to the base station. The base station tracks the number of downlink transmissions and receives corresponding acknowledgements to determine whether retransmissions are needed, ensuring reliable communication despite diverse device requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary acknowledgment feedback mechanism that mediates between the base station's transmission decisions and the UE's reception status. This feedback loop acts as a mediator to coordinate the number of transmissions and acknowledgements, resolving the misalignment issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system implements comprehensive acknowledgement tracking for all downlink transmissions, then transmission reliability improves, but network overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission acknowledgment accuracyVSAvoidacknowledgement management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing acknowledgement tracking selectively for downlink transmissions that require confirmation. Rather than requiring comprehensive acknowledgements for all transmissions, the system manages complexity by focusing acknowledgment mechanisms on critical transmissions while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the UE sends acknowledgement feedback for every downlink transmission, then transmission reliability improves, but unnecessary retransmissions are reduced and network efficiency improves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacknowledgement feedback accuracyVSAvoidnetwork transmission efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250227710A1Communications devices, network nodes, circuitry, systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A method for use in a mobile communications network comprising identifying, by a network node and in a first set of downlink transmissions to be transmitted to the communications device, the last N downlink transmissions; transmitting, by the network node, the first set of downlink transmissions to the communications device wherein transmitting the last N downlink transmissions comprises providing an Ending Grant Indicator “EGI” in association with each of the N downlink transmissions; receiving, by the communications device, downlink transmissions of the first set of downlink transmissions; identifying, by the communications device, any received downlink transmissions of the first set of downlink transmissions that is associated with an EGI; determining, by the communications device and based on the identification of the any received downlink transmissions associated with an EGI, whether the communications device has missed one or more downlink transmissions.