Parallel Retransmission Protocol Processes for Wireless Data Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless telecommunications networks face delays and inefficiencies in retransmission protocols, particularly in poor radio channel conditions, due to the sequential transmission of redundancy versions and the reliance on stop-and-wait operations, which increase latency and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where a terminal device makes multiple transmissions of data blocks using different retransmission protocol processes in parallel, with the option to initiate a second transmission before receiving acknowledgement for the first, and avoiding retransmissions if either acknowledgement indicates successful communication, thereby reducing unnecessary transmissions and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sequential retransmission protocol processes are used, then reliability of data transmission is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of data transmissionVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device initiates a second transmission of the data block before receiving acknowledgement signalling for the first transmission. This preliminary action allows the second transmission to be prepared and sent in advance, reducing the overall latency while maintaining reliability through multiple transmission attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retransmission protocol is divided into multiple parallel processes (first retransmission protocol process and second retransmission protocol process) that can operate independently. This segmentation allows simultaneous execution of multiple transmissions, improving throughput and reducing latency compared to sequential processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple retransmission protocol processes are used in parallel, then productivity of data communication is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of data communicationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple retransmission protocol processes share common functionality through the HARQ entity, which provides universal retransmission control for all processes. This multi-functionality approach allows parallel processes to operate independently while sharing resources, improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The acknowledgement signalling reception and processing functionality is merged across multiple retransmission protocol processes through a single HARQ entity. This combining approach allows the system to handle multiple parallel transmissions while consolidating control logic, thereby improving productivity without linearly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If stop-and-wait operations are used, then reliability of acknowledgement reception is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of acknowledgement receptionVSAvoidtime delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary transmissions (second transmission) before receiving acknowledgement signalling for previous transmissions (first transmission). This preliminary action eliminates the stop-and-wait delay by keeping the transmission pipeline full, while reliability is maintained through the use of HARQ protocols that ensure proper acknowledgement handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple retransmission protocol processes enable continuous transmission of data blocks without waiting for acknowledgements from previous transmissions. This continuity of useful action maintains reliability through proper HARQ acknowledgement handling while eliminating the time delays inherent in stop-and-wait operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10727982B2Controlling communication of data between devices supporting multiple retransmission protocol processes

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

A method controlling wireless communication of a data block from a terminal device to a base station includes: making a first uplink transmission for the data block in association with a first retransmission protocol process and obtaining a corresponding first acknowledgement indication indicating whether the data block has been successfully communicated to the base station; making a second uplink transmission for the data block in association with a second retransmission protocol process and obtaining a corresponding second acknowledgement indication, the second transmission initiated before the first acknowledgement indication is obtained; and determining whether to avoid scheduling retransmission of data for the data block in association with the first retransmission protocol process based on the first and second responses, avoiding data retransmission in association with the first retransmission protocol process if either the first or second acknowledgement indications indicate the data block has been successfully communicated to the base station.