Multicast Acknowledgment Mechanism for MTC Network Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile telecommunication systems face challenges in efficiently communicating with low-capability devices like smart meters, which require simpler and less expensive radio transceivers, while maintaining network efficiency and ensuring data transmission reliability, especially in multicast scenarios where acknowledgment mechanisms are lacking.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and system that allows for multicast data transmission from a base station to multiple terminal devices, with response signals from these devices indicating successful receipt, using a virtual carrier within the bandwidth of a host carrier, enabling efficient resource allocation and retransmission management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If advanced data modulation techniques are employed in third and fourth generation mobile telecommunication networks, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but terminal device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into core network entities (MTC-ASN, MTC-SGW) that handle complex multicast management functions, while terminal devices only need to perform simple reception and acknowledgment. This segmentation allows advanced modulation and multicast techniques to be implemented in the network infrastructure without requiring complex processing capabilities in the terminal devices.
2Productivity
If multicast transmission is used to communicate data to multiple terminal devices, then network resource utilization is improved, but reliability of data delivery deteriorates due to lack of acknowledgment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where terminal devices send acknowledgment signals back to the MTC-ASN after receiving multicast transmissions. The MTC-ASN collects these acknowledgments and can trigger retransmissions for devices that did not successfully receive the data, thereby ensuring reliable delivery while maintaining the efficiency benefits of multicast transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The MTC-SGW performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and preparing multicast data before transmission, and the MTC-ASN prepares acknowledgment collection and retransmission mechanisms in advance. This preliminary preparation enables the system to handle reliability requirements proactively rather than reactively, maintaining efficient multicast operation while ensuring data delivery reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple and inexpensive terminal devices are used for MTC applications, then device cost is reduced, but capability to handle advanced modulation techniques deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Complex modulation and multicast management functions are extracted from the terminal devices and placed in the network infrastructure (MTC-ASN, MTC-SGW). Terminal devices are left with only basic reception and acknowledgment capabilities, making them simple and inexpensive to manufacture, while the network entities handle the advanced techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The MTC-ASN and MTC-SGW entities serve multiple functions: they handle multicast transmission management, acknowledgment collection, retransmission coordination, and interface with both simple MTC devices and the core network. This multi-functionality allows simple terminal devices to benefit from advanced network capabilities without needing to implement them themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating data between a base station and a plurality of terminal devices in a wireless telecommunications system. 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 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, such as a machine-type communications server, to track which terminal devices have indicated successful receipt of the multicast transmission, and to instigate an appropriate re-transmission protocol accordingly.