System and method for frame re-transmission in a broadcast communication system

• US 20060023715A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward G. Tiedemann, Nikolai K.N. Leung, Ragulan Sinnarajah, Tao Chen
• Original Assignee: Edward G. Tiedemann, Nikolai K.N. Leung, Ragulan Sinnarajah, Tao Chen
• Inventors: Tiedemann, Edward G., Leung, Nikolai K. N., Chen, Tao, Sinnarajah, Ragulan
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint

Abstract

An apparatus for providing frame re-transmission in a broadcast communication system. Frame re-transmission is accomplished only when a predetermined number of negative acknowledgement messages are received with respect to one or more data frames. The predetermined number may vary in accordance with various operating parameters, such as the latency of the transmission and/or the number of wireless communication devices currently receiving a broadcast transmission.

Claims

1. A wireless communications apparatus for providing frame re-transmission in a broadcast communication system, comprising:

means for receiving a message indicative of a data frame received in error by a wireless communication device, said message including a data frame identification and including identification of said wireless communication device;

means for determining a cumulative number of times that said data frame from a multiple of said wireless communication devices has been received in error; and

means for re-transmitting said data frame if said cumulative number is greater than a predetermined number.

2. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for determining a cumulative number of times that said data frame has been received in error comprises:

means for determining whether or not said wireless communication device has previously requested a re-transmission of said data frame; and

means for incrementing said cumulative number if said wireless communication device has not previously requested a re-transmission of said data frame.

3. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for determining whether or not said wireless communication device has previously requested a re-transmission of said data frame comprises:

means for determining if said wireless communication device identification is stored in an electronic memory;

means for determining if said data frame identification is stored in said electronic memory in association with said wireless communication device identification; and

means for determining that said wireless communication device has previously requested a re-transmission of said data frame if said wireless communication device identification if stored in said electronic memory and if said data frame identification is stored in said electronic memory in association with said wireless communication device identification.

4. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indication comprises a negative acknowledgment message (NAK).

5. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for determining a latency associated with a broadcast transmission; and

means for adjusting said predetermined number in accordance with said latency.

6. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for determining said latency comprises means for determining a number of data frames waiting to be transmitted in a transmission buffer.

7. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for adjusting said predetermined number comprises:

means for increasing said predetermined number as said latency decreases; and

means for decreasing said predetermined number as said latency increases.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for determining a number of wireless communication devices currently receiving a broadcast transmission; and

means for adjusting said predetermined number based on said number of wireless communication devices currently receiving said broadcast transmission.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting said predetermined number comprises:

means for increasing said predetermined number as said number of wireless communication devices currently receiving said broadcast transmission increases; and

means for decreasing said predetermined number as said number of wireless communication devices currently receiving said broadcast transmission decreases.

10. A wireless communications apparatus for providing frame re-transmission in a broadcast communication system, comprising:

means for receiving a message indicative of a frame received in error by said wireless communications device, said message including an identification of said frame and including identification of said wireless communication device;

means for storing, in a memory, a predetermined number for determining when to re-transmit said frame; and

means for determining, in a processor, a cumulative number of times that said frame from a multiple of said wireless communication devices was received in error and for ordering a re-transmission of said frame if said cumulative number of times is greater than said predetermined number.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

means for receiving said message further comprises a wireless communication receiver identification;

means for storing, in a memory, is further for storing said wireless communication device identification;

means for determining, in a processor, is further for determining a cumulative number of times that said frame was received in error, said cumulative number increased each time that said frame is identified by subsequent messages from other wireless communication devices.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein said message comprises a negative acknowledgement message (NAK).