TCP ACK Packet Transmission via Reserved Sequence Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face delays and inefficiencies in transmitting Transport Control Protocol (TCP) Acknowledgement (ACK) packets due to their allocation of Sequence Numbers (SNs) after uplink data packets, leading to potential retransmissions and increased bandwidth consumption.
Innovation Solution
Reserving Sequence Numbers in the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) and Radio Link Control (RLC) SN spaces for TCP ACK packets, prioritizing their transmission by allocating them at the start of these spaces, and using multiple queues with different priorities to ensure timely and reliable delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If Sequence Numbers are allocated to TCP ACK packets after uplink data packets, then uplink data transmission is maintained, but TCP ACK packet transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SN allocation process by creating separate SN pools: one dedicated to TCP ACK packets and another to uplink data packets. This segmentation allows independent allocation and transmission scheduling, enabling TCP ACK packets to be transmitted without being delayed by uplink data packet processing, thus resolving the contradiction between ACK transmission delay and uplink data efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-allocating and reserving Sequence Numbers for TCP ACK packets before actual transmission occurs. This advance preparation ensures that when TCP ACK packets need to be sent, available SNs are immediately assigned without waiting for uplink data transmission to complete, thereby reducing ACK transmission delay while maintaining uplink data flow.
2Reliability
If TCP ACK packets are prioritized for transmission, then reliability of ACK delivery improves, but complexity of queue management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the packet queue into multiple priority levels, with TCP ACK packets placed in high-priority queues and other data in lower-priority queues. This segmented queue structure ensures TCP ACK packets are transmitted first, improving delivery reliability, while the modular queue design keeps management complexity manageable through clear priority-based rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary priority scheduling mechanism that mediates between TCP ACK packets and uplink data packets. This intermediary layer automatically assigns priority based on packet type, ensuring reliable ACK transmission without requiring complex manual queue management, thus balancing reliability improvement with manageable system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods performed by a User Equipment (UE) are provided for transmission of one or more Transport Control Protocol (TCP) Acknowledgement (ACK) packets including reserving one or more Sequence Numbers (SNs) in at least one of a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) SN space or a Radio Link Control (RLC) SN space, allocating the one or more reserved SNs, to the one or more TCP ACK packets, and sending the one or more TCP ACK packets.