Uplink Redundancy Version Calculation for E-DCH Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication networks, existing methods for implementing uplink enhanced dedicated channels face challenges in efficiently signaling redundancy versions, leading to significant capacity loss and errors due to outband signaling, and alternative methods like implicit calculation are not effectively implemented.

Innovation Solution

A method for calculating a redundancy version number (RVN) based on the connection frame number (CFN), number of automatic repeat request processes (NARQ), and number of redundancy versions (NRV) is introduced, allowing the transmitter and receiver to determine the RVN using specific rules, eliminating the need for outband signaling and reducing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If outband signaling is used to signal the redundancy version, then the reliability of RV parameter transmission is improved, but the overhead and capacity loss increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRV parameter transmission reliabilityVSAvoidchannel capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the RV parameter signaling from the outband signaling channel and integrates it into the inband data channel. The RV parameter is embedded within the data transmission itself, allowing it to be transmitted without requiring separate signaling resources. This eliminates the overhead associated with outband signaling while maintaining the reliability of RV parameter transmission through the same robust channel coding and error detection mechanisms already applied to the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the RV parameter signaling function with the data transmission function. Instead of using separate outband signaling channels for RV parameters, the invention combines the RV indication with the data payload, transmitting both simultaneously over the same inband channel. This consolidation eliminates the need for dedicated signaling resources and reduces overall overhead while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If outband signaling with strong forward error correction and error detection is used, then the accuracy of RV parameter decoding is improved, but the device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRV parameter decoding accuracyVSAvoiderror correction and detection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the universal error correction and detection mechanisms already established for data transmission to the RV parameter signaling. By embedding the RV parameter within the data channel, the same robust coding and error detection schemes used for protecting data are automatically applied to the RV parameters as well. This eliminates the need for separate, additional error protection mechanisms, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining decoding accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of substance

If implicit calculation of RV parameters based on connection frame number is used, then the overhead is reduced, but the reliability and accuracy of RV determination deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidRV parameter determination reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary error protection to the RV parameter before transmission. The RV parameter is encoded with forward error correction and protected with CRC before being embedded in the data channel. This preliminary action ensures that even though the parameter is transmitted inband without separate signaling, its reliability is maintained through pre-applied error correction and detection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the redundancy version is signaled separately from data, then the ease of operation for HARQ combining is improved, but the productivity and spectral efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHARQ combining operationVSAvoidspectral efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the receiver to self-determine the RV parameter directly from the received signal without requiring separate signaling. The RV indication is embedded within the data transmission, allowing the receiver to extract the RV information automatically as part of the normal data reception and decoding process. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation for HARQ combining while eliminating the spectral efficiency loss associated with separate signaling channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7366477B2Redundancy version implementation for an uplink enhanced dedicated channel

Publication Date: 2008.04.29 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

This invention describes a method for a redundancy version implementation of an uplink (UL) enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) in mobile communication systems by calculating a redundancy version number (RVN) as a function of a connection frame number (CFN), a maximum number of processed HARQs (hybrid automatic repeat requests) NARQ, and a number of redundancy versions NRV. Instead of signaling a RV parameter outband in UL, the RVN is determined by the network element using simple rules which ensures that the same RVN is never used successively for the same HARQ process, and that all possible RV numbers are used for one HARQ process.