Network Node Feedback Mechanism for Reliable Data Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, particularly in radio systems like LTE and LTE-Advanced, there is a challenge in ensuring reliable data transmission when multiple network elements are involved, as issues like data packet loss or corruption can lead to complications in split bearer delivery, affecting overall network performance.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves network nodes sending indications about missing data packets over the X2 interface and repeating these indications until confirmation is received, allowing for more reliable data delivery and ensuring that all necessary data packets are transmitted to the terminal device, even if one network node does not receive them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data packets are transmitted through multiple network elements in a communication network, then the network can provide flexible routing and load balancing, but data packet loss or corruption may occur leading to unreliable delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where network nodes send indications about missing data packets to each other over the X2 interface. When a node detects lost packets, it sends an indication to the source node, which then retransmits the missing packets. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable delivery while maintaining the flexibility of multi-path routing through the feedback-driven correction process.
2Reliability
If network nodes repeatedly send indications about missing data packets until confirmation is received, then data delivery reliability is improved, but communication overhead and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The repeated indication mechanism operates as a feedback loop where the source node sends indications about missing packets, receives confirmations from the receiving node, and continues until acknowledgment is received. This ensures reliability through persistent feedback until the issue is resolved, preventing premature termination of the correction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of missing data packets before initiating retransmission. By first sending indications to alert the source node of the problem, the system prepares for targeted retransmission of only the missing packets, rather than retransmitting all packets, thus optimizing the time required for correction.
3Reliability
If network nodes implement mechanisms to track and report missing data packets, then split bearer delivery errors are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism uses standardized indication messages exchanged over the existing X2 interface between network nodes. Rather than implementing complex internal tracking systems, the nodes leverage the existing feedback channel to communicate packet status, keeping the added complexity minimal while ensuring reliable split bearer delivery through the indication-and-retransmit process.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method comprising: receiving, by a first network node, data packets transmitted by a second network node; if at least one data packet of the data packets is noticed not being available to the first network node, sending an indication to the second network node that the at least one data packet of the data packets is not available to the first network node, and repeating sending the indication until a confirmation message is received, wherein the confirmation message comprises confirmation that the indication is received by the second network node.