Variable Transport Format Parameters for Fast Acknowledgment Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face challenges with delayed ACK/NACK signaling due to increased error detection times, which can lead to inefficient use of system resources and unacceptable latency, especially in scenarios where terminals need to send feedback before further signaling can occur.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a predictive and non-predictive acknowledgment feedback mechanism in communication nodes that use transport format parameters (TFP) to differentiate error detection and correction processes for code blocks, allowing for earlier transmission of acknowledgments by applying independent TFP values to subsets and remainder code blocks, thereby reducing processing time and error likelihood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error detection and correction is applied to all code blocks, then reliability is improved, but processing time increases and latency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides code blocks into two groups: a first group of code blocks for which error detection is performed, and a second group for which error detection is not performed. This segmentation allows the system to reduce processing time for ACK/NACK generation while maintaining reliability for critical code blocks, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different error detection strategies are applied to different groups of code blocks based on their importance. The first group receives full error detection and correction, while the second group uses a simplified or no error detection approach. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between reliability and processing time by applying quality control only where necessary.
2Loss of time
If processing time for all code blocks is reduced, then ACK/NACK transmission latency is improved, but error detection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting code blocks into two groups with different processing requirements, the system can reduce decoding time for the second group while maintaining full error detection for the first group. This resolves the contradiction by allowing time reduction without sacrificing overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial error detection action - performing full error detection on only the first group of code blocks rather than all code blocks. This partial action is sufficient to maintain system reliability while significantly reducing the total processing time required for ACK/NACK transmission.
3Reliability
If guard time is increased to allow complete decoding, then decoding reliability is improved, but system resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transport block into two groups of code blocks, allowing the system to prepare ACK/NACK feedback based on the first group before the second group is fully decoded. This eliminates the need for excessive guard time, improving resource utilization while maintaining decoding reliability for critical blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary error detection on the first group of code blocks and prepares the ACK/NACK feedback in advance, before complete reception and decoding of all code blocks. This preliminary action eliminates the need for large guard times, thereby improving system resource efficiency without compromising the reliability of the feedback mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A first communication node (110) receives a stream of code blocks from a second communication node (120) over an acknowledged connection (131.). The first communication node processes the received code blocks in accordance with at least one transport format parameter, TFP, detects errors in received code blocks, and transmits an acknowledgment in respect of groups of code blocks indicating whether at least one error was detected in the group. A first subset of the code blocks of a group are transmitted (e.g., modulated and demodulated) in accordance with a first TFP value, and a remainder of the code blocks are transmitted in accordance with a second TFP value. Because the first and second TFP values are independent, it is possible either to shorten the necessary processing time in the first communication node or, in connection with a predictive acknowledgment mechanism, to make the receiving-side processing of code blocks that do not contribute to the value of the transmitted acknowledgment more robust.