RLC Polling via Sequence Number Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communications networks face challenges in efficiently supporting a wide range of devices with different data traffic profiles and requirements, including low latency, high data rates, and large numbers of devices, particularly with the introduction of new radio access technology (NR) systems, which demand reduced processing overheads for improved efficiency and performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mobile communications system with a transmitting node and receiving node that utilize an automatic repeat request process, where protocol data units are transmitted with sequence numbers, allowing for polling based on sequence numbers rather than PDU counts, enabling pre-configured RLC headers and reduced processing overheads, and automatic status reporting for error correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional polling methods based on PDU counts are used, then comprehensive status reporting can be achieved, but processing overheads increase and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polling trigger parameter from PDU count to sequence number values. Specifically, polling is triggered when the sequence number of a transmitted PDU matches a pre-configured threshold sequence number. This parameter change simplifies the polling decision logic at the transmitter and reduces processing overhead while maintaining reliable status reporting through the poll bit mechanism.
2Reliability
If frequent polling is performed to ensure reliable data transmission, then error detection and recovery improve, but processing overheads and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring threshold sequence numbers for polling triggers before data transmission begins. The transmitter and receiver are both configured with these threshold values in advance, allowing the transmitter to automatically trigger polls at the correct sequence numbers without real-time complex calculations. This reduces processing overhead and latency during actual data transmission while maintaining reliable error detection and recovery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex polling logic is implemented to support diverse device requirements, then adaptability to different device profiles improves, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal polling mechanism based on sequence number thresholds that can serve multiple device types and traffic profiles. The same sequence number-based polling logic works for different device requirements (low latency, high data rate, MTC, IoT) without needing device-specific complex logic. The threshold sequence numbers can be configured to adapt to different traffic patterns while maintaining a simple, unified polling structure that reduces device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transmitting node operating with a mobile communications system comprises transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals representing protocol data units formed from one or more service data units via a wireless access interface of the mobile communications system to a receiving node of the mobile communications system according to an automatic repeat request process, receiver circuitry configured to receive signals from the receiving node via the wireless access interface, controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry to transmit the signals and to control the receiver circuitry to receive the signals, and a buffer configured to store data conveyed by or representing the protocol data units for transmission to the receiving node according to the automatic repeat request process, wherein each of the protocol data units has a sequence number defining their position in a predetermined order. The receiving node comprises receiver circuitry configured to the receive signals representing the protocol data units formed from the one or more service data units via the wireless access interface from the transmitting node according to the automatic repeat request process, transmitter circuitry configured to transmit the signals to the transmitting node via the wireless access interface, and controller circuitry configured to control the transmitter circuitry to transmit the signals and to control the receiver circuitry to receive the signals. In some embodiments of the present technique, the transmitting node is configured to detect, based on the sequence number of one or more of the protocol data units, whether predetermined criteria are satisfied, and in response to transmit a polling bit to the receiving node in the one or more of the protocol data units for which the sequence number satisfies the predetermined criteria. In some embodiments of the present technique, the receiving node is configured to detect based on the sequence number of one or more of the protocol data units, that predetermined criteria are satisfied, and in response to transmit a status report message comprising a negative acknowledgement for one or more protocol data units which were not successfully received. Figure 8 to accompany abstract