Wireless Feedback Mechanism for Radio Frame Reception Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless networks, particularly WLAN, the existing methods do not support feedback frames indicating unsuccessful reception of radio frames, leading to the sending station not learning the receiving condition of the radio frame in time, which hinders timely retransmissions and data sending efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A data sending feedback method where the receiving station detects the end of radio frame transmission over a specified sub-channel within a predetermined time, parses the physical preamble to determine the target receiving station, and sends a feedback frame carrying information on unsuccessful reception, available sub-channels, and retransmission parameters, enabling the sending station to adjust its transmission accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the receiving station sends ACK frame only upon successful reception, then the protocol complexity is reduced, but the sending station cannot learn the receiving condition in time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol complexityVSAvoidreceiving condition information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional ACK mechanism by introducing NACK (Negative Acknowledgement) frames. Instead of sending positive confirmation only for successful reception, the system now sends negative confirmation for unsuccessful reception. This inversion allows the sending station to learn about reception failures promptly while maintaining protocol simplicity, as NACK frames are only sent when needed (i.e., when reception fails).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where receiving stations send NACK frames to inform sending stations about unsuccessful frame reception. This feedback loop enables the sending station to learn the receiving condition in real-time and initiate retransmissions accordingly, resolving the information loss problem while keeping the protocol relatively simple by only activating feedback when errors occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If the receiving station sends feedback frame for unsuccessful reception, then the sending station can learn receiving condition in time, but the communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiving condition informationVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of increased communication overhead into a benefit by using selective NACK transmission. Instead of sending feedback for every frame (which would create excessive overhead), the system only sends NACK frames when reception fails. This selective approach transforms what could be a waste of resources into a targeted, efficient error notification mechanism that minimizes overhead while providing necessary feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of feedback transmission from continuous (sending ACK for every successful frame) to event-driven (sending NACK only when reception fails). This parameter change optimizes the balance between information availability and communication overhead by activating feedback transmission only when necessary, thereby reducing the quantity of feedback frames while maintaining effective error notification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the sending station waits for appointed time to determine transmission success, then the channel access efficiency is improved, but the retransmission timing is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel access efficiencyVSAvoidretransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the receiving station prepare and send NACK frames immediately upon detecting reception failures, rather than waiting for the sending station's timeout period to expire. This preliminary feedback allows the sending station to know about reception failures before its appointed time expires, enabling earlier retransmission decisions and reducing overall retransmission delay while maintaining channel access efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback mechanisms where receiving stations proactively send NACK frames to inform sending stations of reception failures. This feedback eliminates the need for the sending station to wait for the full appointed time to determine transmission success, as the NACK frame provides immediate information about reception status, thereby reducing retransmission delay without compromising channel access efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3179656B1Data transmission feedback, data transmission method and device
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 ZTE CORP
  • EP3179656B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3179656B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3179656B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Provided are a data sending feedback method and apparatus, and a data sending method and apparatus. According to data sending feedback method, when reception of a radio frame fails, a receiving station detects whether transmission of the radio frame over a specified sub-channel in a working channel ends within predetermined time; after the receiving station detects that the transmission of the radio frame over the specified sub-channel in the working channel ends within the predetermined time, the receiving station sends a feedback frame to a sending station of the radio frame. The above-mentioned technical solution solves the technical problem in the related art that a receiving station does not send a feedback frame upon unsuccessful reception of a radio frame and thus a sending station cannot learn a receiving condition of the radio frame in time. In this way, the sending station is enabled to acquire the receiving condition of the radio frame in time and providing a strong support for subsequent data sending or retransmission.