Multicast ARQ with Virtual Carriers for MTC Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current third and fourth generation mobile telecommunication networks face challenges in efficiently communicating with low-capability terminal devices, such as smart meters, due to the need for complex and expensive radio transceivers to support advanced data modulation techniques, which increases costs and complexity, and lack a mechanism for terminal devices to acknowledge multicast transmissions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for operating a base station that transmits data to multiple terminal devices in a multicast transmission, with the base station receiving response signals to indicate successful receipt, and providing an uplink transmission resource indication during the setup procedure or with the multicast transmission, allowing for efficient communication using virtual carriers that operate within a reduced bandwidth, enabling simpler receiver units and acknowledging multicast transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If advanced data modulation techniques are used in third and fourth generation mobile telecommunication networks, then data transmission capability is improved, but terminal device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two parts: the network side (base station) continues to use advanced modulation techniques for high data transmission capability, while the terminal side (MTC devices) uses simpler modulation schemes. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the network provides sophisticated processing while terminals remain simple and low-cost.
2Productivity
If multicast transmission is used to communicate data to multiple terminal devices, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but reliability of data delivery deteriorates due to lack of acknowledgment mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where terminal devices send acknowledgment signals back to the base station after receiving multicast transmissions. The base station receives these response signals and can determine whether retransmission is needed, thereby maintaining multicast bandwidth efficiency while improving delivery reliability through selective retransmission.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple and inexpensive terminal devices are used for MTC applications, then device cost is reduced, but network accessibility deteriorates due to inability to support advanced modulation techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal communication framework where the network infrastructure supports multiple terminal types simultaneously. The base station can communicate with both simple MTC devices (using simple modulation) and advanced terminals (using advanced modulation), making the system universally compatible. This allows inexpensive MTC devices to access the network without requiring them to implement complex modulation techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating data between a base station and a plurality of terminal devices in a wireless telecommunications system is described. The method comprises transmitting data from the base station to the plurality of terminal devices in a multicast transmission and transmitting response signals from the terminal devices to the base station to indicate whether or not the respective terminal devices have successfully received the multicast transmission. The use of a multicast transmission provides an efficient mechanism for communicating the same data to a plurality of terminal device, for example as might be desired in a machine-type communication network. In combination with this, the use of individual response signals, such as ACK/NACK signalling, from the terminal devices allows the base station, or other entity, to track which terminal devices have indicated successful receipt of the multicast transmission, and to instigate an appropriate re-transmission protocol accordingly.