Multi-hop RU Feedback for Targeted Retransmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, there is a challenge in identifying intermediate-hop radio units (RUs) that successfully receive uplink data, which is essential for efficient retransmissions, especially in multi-hop networks where data failures occur, leading to inefficiencies in data delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first RU, configured to receive data from a second RU, determines whether feedback indicating successful data reception is received and transmits feedback to a receiving unit, including information on the data's receipt status, allowing for targeted retransmissions from RUs that successfully received the data and are closest to the destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple intermediate hops are used for uplink data transmission, then network coverage and flexibility are improved, but the complexity of identifying successful reception points deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each intermediate-hop RU transmits feedback information to the destination device indicating whether it successfully received uplink data. This feedback chain allows the destination device to identify the nearest successful reception point without complex monitoring of all intermediate hops, resolving the contradiction by providing adaptability through multi-hop coverage while managing identification complexity through structured feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback information acts as an intermediary that carries reception status from intermediate-hop RUs to the destination device. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the identification process by providing explicit status indicators rather than requiring the destination device to directly monitor and analyze all intermediate transmission points, thus maintaining versatility while reducing complexity.
2Reliability
If the destination device requests retransmission from the original source, then reliability is improved, but latency increases due to unnecessary retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism provides the destination device with information about which intermediate-hop RUs successfully received the uplink data. When a retransmission is needed, the destination device can use this feedback information to identify the nearest successful reception point and request retransmission from that specific RU rather than from the original source, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing retransmission latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback information is collected and made available to the destination device before retransmission is requested. This preliminary collection of reception status information enables the destination device to make an informed decision about the optimal retransmission source, avoiding unnecessary latency caused by retrying from the original source when an intermediate hop could serve as a better retransmission point.
3Productivity
If feedback information is collected from all intermediate hops, then retransmission efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential feedback information needed for retransmission decisions from the intermediate-hop RUs. Specifically, each intermediate-hop RU provides a simple indication of whether it successfully received the uplink data, rather than transmitting complete detailed information. This extraction approach improves retransmission efficiency by providing necessary reception status while minimizing signaling overhead through compact feedback representations.
4Measurement precision
If the system monitors all intermediate hops for data reception, then accuracy of retransmission targeting is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of actively monitoring all intermediate hops for data reception, the system uses a feedback mechanism where each intermediate-hop RU explicitly reports its reception status. This feedback approach achieves high measurement precision in identifying successful reception points while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for complex monitoring procedures at the destination device. The feedback information is simply collected and used to identify the nearest successful reception point for retransmission.
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus may be a first device at a first RU (e.g., UE, base station, etc.). The first RU may be configured to receive, from a control unit, a configuration for relaying or repeating data received from a second RU to a receiving unit. The first RU may further be configured to determine whether first feedback associated with the data is received from the second RU. The first RU may also be configured to transmit second feedback to the receiving unit or the control unit, the second feedback including first information indicating at least one of the first feedback or whether the first feedback was received.