On-Demand Soft ACK/NACK Feedback in Wireless Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies due to always-enabled soft ACK/NACK feedback, which increases overhead and reduces uplink reliability, as they do not dynamically adjust feedback based on link quality and error thresholds.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an on-demand soft ACK/NACK feedback mechanism where the network entity requests feedback only when error thresholds or link quality criteria are met, allowing the UE to provide detailed soft information on link quality metrics per diversity branch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If soft ACK/NACK feedback is always enabled, then link quality assessment is improved, but overhead increases and uplink reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic soft ACK/NACK feedback where the UE transitions between enabled and disabled states based on network conditions. The network entity triggers feedback transmission only when error thresholds are exceeded or link quality degrades, making the feedback mechanism adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by enabling precise link quality assessment only when necessary, thereby maintaining uplink reliability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of soft feedback from a constant enabled state to a conditional state based on error thresholds and link quality metrics. The network entity monitors channel conditions and dynamically adjusts whether soft ACK/NACK feedback is required, changing the system parameter (feedback enabled/disabled) based on measured conditions. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting the feedback parameter according to actual link quality needs.
2Reliability
If soft ACK/NACK feedback is always enabled, then transmission reliability is improved, but overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the soft feedback transmission from continuous operation and implements it only when specific conditions are met. The network entity determines whether soft ACK/NACK feedback is necessary by evaluating error thresholds and link quality, effectively taking out the feedback overhead from the always-on state and retaining it only when transmission reliability benefits are needed. This resolves the contradiction by separating feedback transmission from continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by enabling soft ACK/NACK feedback only partially - specifically when error thresholds are exceeded or link quality degrades below certain levels. Instead of excessive continuous feedback transmission, the system applies feedback action only to the extent necessary for maintaining transmission reliability, thereby reducing overall overhead while preserving reliability benefits where needed.
3Quantity of substance
If dynamic feedback adjustment is implemented, then overhead is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network entity monitors error thresholds and link quality, then triggers soft ACK/NACK feedback transmission accordingly. The system uses feedback from channel conditions to dynamically adjust feedback behavior, creating a closed-loop control system. This resolves the contradiction by using automated feedback-based decision making rather than complex manual configuration, reducing overhead through intelligent automation.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects described herein relate to on-demand soft acknowledgement (ACK)/negative acknowledgement (NACK) in radio access and other wireless networks, such as fifth generation new radio (5G NR), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3GPP LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wi-Fi, and the like. In an example, the aspects may include receiving, from a network entity, a request to enable soft ACK/NACK feedback; enabling the soft ACK/NACK feedback based on the request, where the soft ACK/NACK feedback comprises at least a link quality metric per diversity branch; and transmitting, to the network entity, the soft ACK/NACK feedback based on a determination to enable the soft ACK/NACK feedback.