Method and an apparatus for a quick retransmission of signals in a communication system

• US 7,613,978 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Peter J., Jalali, Ahmad, Attar, Rashid A., Sindhushayana, Nagabhushana T., Esteves, Eduardo A.S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITT, CYNTHIA H
• Application Number:
  US11/518,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 714/748, 714/704
• US Class Current: 714/748
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1692 Physical properties of the supervisory signal, e.g. acknowledgement by energy bursts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1809 Selective-repeat protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1848 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1877 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications like streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream control arrangements H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for quick retransmission of signals in a communication system are disclosed. A transmitting terminal, e.g., a base station, transmits signals in a form of packets to a receiving terminal, e.g., a subscriber station. The receiving terminal determines if the packet was intended for the receiving terminal, and if so, the receiving terminal demodulates the packet. The receiving terminal then computes a quality metric of the packet, and compares the computed quality metric with a quality metric contained in the packet. If the quality metrics match, the packet is declared correctly received, and is forwarded for further processing. If the quality metrics fail to match, the receiving terminal sends a request for retransmission of the packet. The transmitting terminal determines which packet needs to be retransmitted based on the request for retransmission. The transmitting terminal then schedules the packet for retransmission.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving data in multiple forward link timeslots;

determining a quality metric of the received data;

requesting retransmission of the received data if the quality metric indicates the received data has not been received correctly; and

if retransmission is requested and not received, performing a secondary scheme capable of again requesting retransmission of the received data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a preamble is received in each of the multiple forward link timeslots.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a preamble is received in only a first of the multiple forward link timeslots.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of requesting retransmission comprises:

comparing the determined quality metric of the received data with a quality metric contained in at least one slot of the multiple timeslots; and

generating a retransmission request based on said comparison.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

transmitting the retransmission request at a determinable time instant.

6. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver operative to receive data in multiple forward link timeslots;

a processor operative to determine a quality metric of the received data; and

a transmitter operative to request retransmission of the received data if the quality metric indicates the received data has not been received correctly; and

if retransmission is requested and not received, to perform a secondary scheme capable of again requesting retransmission of the received data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the receiver is further operative to receive a preamble in each of the multiple forward link timeslots.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the receiver is further operative to receive a preamble in only a first of the multiple forward link timeslots.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the transmitter is further operative to (a) compare the determined quality metric of the received data with a quality metric contained in at least one slot of the multiple timeslots;

and (h) generate a request based on said comparison.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

the transmitter is further operative to transmit the retransmission request at a determinable time instant.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

receiver means operative to receive data in multiple forward link timeslots;

processor means operative to determine a quality metric of the received data; and

transmitter means operative to request retransmission of the received data if the quality metric indicates the received data has not been received correctly; and

if retransmission is requested and not received, to perform a secondary scheme capable of again requesting retransmission of the received data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the receiver means is further operative to receive a preamble in each of the multiple forward link timeslots.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the receiver means is further operative to receive a preamble in only a first of the multiple forward link timeslots.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the transmitter means is further operative to (a) compare the determined quality metric of the received data with a quality metric contained in at least one slot of the multiple timeslots; and

(b) generate a request based on said comparison.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the transmitter means is further operative to transmit the retransmission request at a determinable time instant.