# US 10,374,756 B2 · Methods and systems for HARQ protocols > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,756 B2 - Document ID: US10374756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/491,530 - Filed: 2017-04-19 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-21 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Mo-han Fong; Sophie Vrzic; Robert Novak; Jun Yuan; Dong-Sheng Yu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374756B2 ## CPC - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04L 1/0003: {by switching between different modulation schemes} - H04L 1/0009: {by adapting the channel coding (H04L1/1812 takes precedence)} - H04L 1/1816: {with retransmission of the same, encoded, message} - H04L 1/1861: {Physical mapping arrangements (for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053)} - H04L 1/1887: {Scheduling and prioritising arrangements} - H04L 1/1896: {ARQ related signaling} - H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)} - H04L 5/14: Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex - H04L 27/2659: {Coarse or integer frequency offset determination and synchronisation} - H04L 27/2666: {Acquisition of further OFDM parameters, e.g. bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, or guard interval length} - H04W 72/044: based on the type of the allocated resource - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/0453: Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA - H04W 72/1268: of uplink data flows - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - H04W 72/30: Resource management for broadcast services - H04W 28/04: Error control - H04W 72/535: {based on resource usage policies} - H04W 88/04: adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions. In some embodiments of the invention, a 3-state acknowledgement channel and associated error recovery operation enables the base station and mobile station to recover from control signaling error and reduce packet loss. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile station, comprising: transmit circuitry; receive circuitry; one or more antennas; and a processor in communication with the transmit circuitry, the receive circuitry, and the one or more antennas; wherein the processor is configured to: receive, via the receive circuitry, system broadcast signaling, wherein the system broadcast signaling defines a set of parameters, and wherein the set of parameters are a function of a time division duplexing downlink/uplink (TDD DL/UL) subframe ratio; receive, via the receive circuitry, a first packet transmission from a base station on a DL subframe, wherein the first packet transmission is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and determine, in response to the previously received first packet transmission, timing for transmitting a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NAK) to the base station, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling, wherein the timing comprises a configuration including a first portion of a first set of downlink transmissions in a first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames that are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames and a second portion of the first set of downlink transmissions that are not positively or negatively acknowledged in the subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent second set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames subsequent to a second set of downlink consecutive transmission sub-frames, and wherein an order of retransmissions corresponding to the first set of downlink transmissions is different than the order of the first set of downlink transmissions in the first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames to accommodate minimum ACK/NAK delay and retransmit delay. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the set of parameters comprise a HARQ ACK delay. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The mobile station of claim 2, wherein the set of parameters further comprise a retransmit delay and a number of HARQ channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the first packet transmission is comprised in a plurality of first packet transmissions; wherein the DL subframe is comprised in a plurality of DL subframes; wherein, to receive the first packet transmission, the processor is further configured to receive each of the plurality of first packet transmissions from the base station on a different DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, wherein each of the first packet transmissions is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and wherein, to determine the timing for transmitting the HARQ ACK/NAK, the processor is further configured to determine, in response to each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, timing for transmitting a HARQ ACK/NAK to the base station for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mobile station of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine that the HARQ ACK/NAK for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions coincide in one UL subframe based on the determined timing for the HARQ ACK/NAKs; and transmit each of the HARQ ACK/NAKs for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions in one UL subframe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The mobile station of claim 5, wherein, according to a different configuration, the processor is further configured to: transmit, via the transmit circuitry, the HARQ ACK/NAKs for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions; receive, via the receive circuitry, an associated packet retransmission in response to each transmitted HARQ NAK for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, wherein each received first packet transmission and associated packet retransmission corresponds to a HARQ channel; determine a first ordering of HARQ channels corresponding to the plurality of received first packet transmissions on DL subframes before HARQ ACK/NAK transmission on one UL subframe; and retain the first ordering for receiving packet retransmissions of the HARQ channels corresponding to the plurality of received first packet transmissions on DL subframes after HARQ ACK/NAK transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a resource location of a ACK/NAK channel for the mobile station for the HARQ ACK/NAK transmission, wherein the resource location of the ACK/NAK channel of the mobile station within a UL sub-frame is deduced from a HARQ channel number, an assigned DL resource of the received first packet transmission, and a number of UL ACK/NAK channels allocated. ### Claim 8 An apparatus, comprising: a memory; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to: receive system broadcast signaling, wherein the system broadcast signaling defines a set of parameters, and wherein the set of parameters are a function of a time division duplexing downlink/uplink (TDD DL/UL) subframe ratio; receive a first packet transmission from a base station on a DL subframe, wherein the first packet transmission is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and determine, in response to the previously received first packet transmission, timing for transmitting a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NAK) to the base station, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling, wherein the timing comprises a configuration including a first portion of a first set of downlink transmissions in a first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames that are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames and a second portion of the first set of downlink transmissions that are not positively or negatively acknowledged in the subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent second set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames subsequent to a second set of downlink consecutive transmission sub-frames, and wherein an order of retransmissions corresponding to the first set of downlink transmissions is different than the order of the first set of downlink transmissions in the first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames to accommodate minimum ACK/NAK delay and retransmit delay. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the set of parameters comprise a HARQ ACK delay. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the set of parameters further comprise a retransmit delay and a number of HARQ channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first packet transmission is comprised in a plurality of first packet transmissions; wherein the DL subframe is comprised in a plurality of DL subframes; wherein, to receive the first packet transmission, the processor is further configured to receive each of the plurality of first packet transmissions from the base station on a different DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, wherein each of the first packet transmissions is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and wherein, to determine the timing for transmitting the HARQ ACK/NAK, the processor is further configured to determine, in response to each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, timing for transmitting a HARQ ACK/NAK to the base station for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine that the HARQ ACK/NAK for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions coincide in one UL subframe based on the determined timing for the HARQ ACK/NAKs; and transmit each of the HARQ ACK/NAKs for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions in one UL subframe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, according to a different configuration, the processor is further configured to: transmit the HARQ ACK/NAKs for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions; receive an associated packet retransmission in response to each transmitted HARQ NAK for each of the plurality of received first packet transmissions, wherein each received first packet transmission and associated packet retransmission corresponds to a HARQ channel; determine a first ordering of HARQ channels corresponding to the plurality of received first packet transmissions on DL subframes before HARQ ACK/NAK transmission on one UL subframe; and retain the first ordering for receiving packet retransmissions of the HARQ channels corresponding to the plurality of received first packet transmissions on DL subframes after HARQ ACK/NAK transmission. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a resource location of a ACK/NAK channel for the mobile station for the HARQ ACK/NAK transmission, wherein the resource location of the ACK/NAK channel of the mobile station within a UL sub-frame is deduced from a HARQ channel number, an assigned DL resource of the received first packet transmission, and a number of UL ACK/NAK channels allocated. ### Claim 15 A base station, comprising: a baseband processor; one or more antennas; transmit circuitry coupled to the baseband processor and the one or more antennas; and receive circuitry coupled to the baseband processor and the one or more antennas; wherein the base station is configured to: transmit system broadcast signaling, wherein the system broadcast signaling defines a set of parameters, and wherein the set of parameters are a function of a time division duplexing downlink/uplink (TDD DL/UL) subframe ratio; transmit a first packet transmission to a mobile station on an DL subframe, wherein the first packet transmission is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and determine, in response to the previously transmitted first packet transmission, timing for receiving a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgment/negative acknowledgment (ACK/NAK) from the mobile station, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling, wherein the timing comprises a configuration including a first portion of a first set of downlink transmissions in a first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames that are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames and a second portion of the first set of downlink transmissions that are not positively or negatively acknowledged in the subsequent first set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames are positively or negatively acknowledged in a subsequent second set of consecutive uplink transmission sub-frames subsequent to a second set of downlink consecutive transmission sub-frames, and wherein an order of retransmissions corresponding to the first set of downlink transmissions is different than the order of the first set of downlink transmissions in the first set of consecutive downlink sub-frames to accommodate minimum ACK/NAK delay and retransmit delay. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The base station of claim 15, wherein the set of parameters comprise a HARQ ACK delay. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The base station of claim 16, wherein the set of parameters further comprise a retransmit delay and a number of HARQ channels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The base station of claim 15, wherein the first packet transmission is comprised in a plurality of first packet transmissions; wherein the DL subframe is comprised in a plurality of DL subframes; wherein the base station configured to: transmit the first packet transmission further comprises transmitting each of the plurality of first packet transmissions from the base station on a different DL subframe of the plurality of DL subframes, wherein each of the first packet transmissions is one of a packet transmission or retransmission; and determine the timing for receiving the HARQ ACK/NAK further comprises determining, in response to each of the plurality of transmitted first packet transmissions, timing for receiving a HARQ ACK/NAK from the mobile station for each of the plurality of transmitted first packet transmissions, wherein the timing is deducible based on the system broadcast signaling. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The base station of claim 18, wherein the base station is further configured to: determine that the HARQ ACK/NAK for each of the plurality of transmitted first packet transmissions coincide in one UL subframe based on the determined timing for the HARQ ACK/NAKs; and receive each of the HARQ ACK/NAKs for each of the plurality of transmitted first packet transmissions in one UL subframe. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The base station of claim 15, wherein the base station is further configured to: determine a recourse location of a ACK/NAK channel for the mobile station for the HARQ ACK/NAK reception, wherein the resource location of the ACK/NAK channel of the mobile station within a UL sub-frame is deduced from a HARQ channel number, an assigned DL resource of the received first packet transmission, and a number of UL ACK/NAK channels allocated.