Rate-less Codes for Grant-Free Multiple Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems are sub-optimal in achieving spectral efficiency and fairness among users due to their reliance on grant-based orthogonal multiple access schemes, which are inefficient in adapting to time-varying wireless channels and prone to inaccuracies from feedback delays and channel estimation errors.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of physical layer rate-less codes enables grant-free, contention-based, and grant-based, non-orthogonal multiple access schemes, allowing for dynamic adaptation to varying channel conditions and reducing the need for explicit link adaptation and feedback overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If grant-based orthogonal multiple access schemes are used, then intra-cell interference is avoided, but spectral efficiency and adaptability to time-varying channels deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference avoidanceVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines rateless codes with non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) to merge the interference avoidance capability of orthogonal schemes with the spectral efficiency of non-orthogonal schemes. Multiple users transmit on the same time-frequency resources simultaneously, and the base station uses rateless decoding to separate and decode all user signals, achieving both high spectral efficiency and reliable interference management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation through rateless codes that can adjust the coding rate based on channel conditions. The system dynamically determines when successful decoding is achieved without requiring explicit feedback about channel state, enabling automatic adaptation to time-varying channels while maintaining high spectral efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If grant-based orthogonal multiple access schemes are used, then resource allocation is simplified, but adaptability to time-varying wireless channels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation complexityVSAvoidchannel adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through rateless codes that automatically adapt to channel conditions without requiring external feedback or control signaling. The decoding process itself provides the adaptation mechanism - the base station continues decoding until success is achieved, automatically adjusting to channel variations without explicit link adaptation protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the explicit feedback and link adaptation mechanisms from the resource allocation process. By using rateless codes with successful decoding detection, the system removes the need for complex feedback loops and channel state reporting, simplifying resource allocation while maintaining adaptability through the inherent properties of rateless coding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If explicit link adaptation and feedback mechanisms are used, then channel conditions can be compensated, but feedback overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel compensationVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback in a minimal and efficient manner - only a single-bit indicator is fed back to signal successful decoding. This minimal feedback mechanism provides just enough information for the transmitter to know when to stop transmitting redundant packets, achieving reliable channel compensation without excessive feedback overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by using rateless codes that generate packets beyond what is minimally required for decoding. This excessive generation of coded packets ensures that enough information is available to overcome channel impairments, and the system stops exactly when decoding succeeds, avoiding waste while ensuring reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Loss of time

If grant-free contention-based access is enabled, then access latency is reduced, but collisions between users increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess latencyVSAvoidcollision resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of collisions into a beneficial feature. Instead of treating collisions as errors to be avoided, the rateless coding scheme treats received packets from multiple users as additional information sources. The base station accumulates packets from all users (including collisions) and uses rateless decoding to separate and decode all signals, turning collision-induced interference into useful signal diversity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3414857B1System and method for rate-less multiple access
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3414857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3414857B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3414857B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Rate-less multiple access schemes for wireless networks uses physical layer, rate-less codes to enable grant-free, contention-based, random access and grant-based, contention-free, non-orthogonal multiple access in uplink or downlink channels.