Relay Station ACK/NACK Processing for Wireless Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks face challenges in ensuring reliable communication across relay stations and destination stations due to packet loss and failure in acknowledgment mechanisms, particularly in multi-hop systems where data is retransmitted inefficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that send packets to both relay and destination stations, with acknowledgments (ACKs) or negative acknowledgments (NACKs) processed by a controller using a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol, allowing for efficient retransmission and error detection through error detection techniques like parity checking or cyclic redundancy coding, and utilizing techniques like CDMA, space division multiple access, or dirty paper coding to decode ACKs/NACKs from multiple stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packets are sent to both relay station and destination station in multi-hop wireless network, then coverage range is extended and transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity increases and acknowledgment management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgment process by introducing separate ACK/NACK feedback mechanisms for relay stations and destination stations. Each station type receives and processes acknowledgments independently, dividing the complex multi-hop transmission reliability problem into manageable segments that can be handled separately at each network node.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback mechanisms where both relay stations and destination stations send acknowledgments (ACK) or negative acknowledgments (NACK) back to the source station. This feedback loop enables the source station to track packet delivery status across multiple hops and initiate retransmissions only when necessary, improving reliability while managing system complexity through intelligent feedback processing.
2Measurement precision
If acknowledgment mechanisms are implemented at both relay station and destination station, then error detection capability is improved, but processing overhead and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having relay stations perform error detection and generate acknowledgments in advance before packets reach the final destination. This early error detection at intermediate relay points prevents unnecessary forwarding of corrupted packets, reducing overall processing time and preventing wasted transmission cycles while maintaining high error detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by implementing parallel acknowledgment processing at relay stations and destination stations. Both stations operate simultaneously to provide continuous error detection coverage across all transmission hops, eliminating idle time and ensuring that error detection is always active without adding sequential processing delays.
3Reliability
If retransmission is performed based on NACK from destination station, then data completeness is ensured, but network traffic overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces relay stations as intermediaries that can perform local retransmissions based on NACK feedback. When a relay station receives a NACK from a destination station, it can retransmit the packet locally without requiring the source station to initiate a new transmission. This intermediary retransmission mechanism ensures data completeness while significantly reducing network traffic overhead by containing retransmissions to local segments rather than requiring end-to-end retransmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
Various example embodiments are discloses. According to one example embodiment, a method may include sending a packet to both a relay station and a destination station in a wireless network, receiving a relay station acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (NACK) from the relay station during an ACK/NACK frame, and receiving a destination station ACK or NACK from the destination station during the ACK/NACK frame. The relay station ACK or NACK may either acknowledge or negatively acknowledge successful receipt of the packet by the relay station. The destination station ACK or NACK may either acknowledge or negatively acknowledge successful receipt of the packet by the destination station.