Multicast BLER Packet Number Encoding for Low-Overhead Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicast channel block error rate (BLER) reporting in wireless communication systems faces inefficiencies due to limited packet number representation, which fails to accurately determine the reliability of small BLER values and results in excessive signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method for encoding packet numbers using a flexible representation with multiple granularities and thresholds, allowing for fine granularity for small values and coarse granularity for large values, with the ability to adjust thresholds and granularities based on the number of received packets, thereby optimizing bit usage and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If 11 bits are used for packet number encoding with plain representation, then the encoding fits into 2 octal digits reducing signaling overhead, but the maximum value is only 2048 which is not enough to determine reliability of small BLER values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet number representation into multiple ranges with different granularities. For packet numbers 0-1023, a fine granularity of 1 is used; for 1024-2047, granularity of 2 is used; for 2048-4095, granularity of 4 is used; and for 4096-8191, granularity of 8 is used. This segmentation allows accurate representation of small packet numbers while efficiently encoding larger values, resolving the contradiction between precision and signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different encoding granularities for different ranges of packet numbers. Small packet numbers (0-1023) are encoded with fine granularity (1) to ensure accurate BLER determination, while large packet numbers are encoded with coarser granularity (2, 4, or 8) to reduce the number of bits required. This localized adaptation of encoding precision optimizes the balance between measurement accuracy and signaling efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If 13 bits are used for packet number encoding with plain representation, then the maximum value is 8192 providing better range coverage, but it corresponds to 3 octal digits resulting in larger signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic encoding scheme where the granularity changes based on the packet number range. Instead of using a fixed 13-bit plain representation, the system dynamically selects the appropriate granularity (1, 2, 4, or 8) based on the actual packet number value. This dynamic adaptation reduces the average number of bits required compared to fixed-width encoding, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to represent values up to 8192.
3Adaptability or versatility
If floating representation with 8-bit mantissa and 3-bit exponent is used, then the maximum number that can be represented is 32640, but there are many overlapping states with this representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the encoding parameters from a floating-point format (mantissa + exponent) to a segmented integer format with variable granularity. This parameter change eliminates the overlapping states problem inherent in floating-point representation while maintaining the ability to represent a wide range of values (0-8191). The segmented approach with granularities of 1, 2, 4, and 8 ensures that each packet number has a unique encoding, thereby improving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Various communication systems may benefit from appropriate representations of communication parameters and information. For example, certain wireless communication systems may benefit from packet number representation for multicast channel block error rate reporting. A method can include determining a number of packets corresponding to a block error rate of a multicast channel. The method can also include encoding the number of packets using an encoding format that includes a plurality of granularities and at least one threshold. The method can further include transmitting the number of packets in a report.