# US 10,771,225 B2 · Techniques and apparatuses for using mini-slots for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmissions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,225 B2 - Document ID: US10771225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/174,575 - Filed: 2018-10-30 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-17 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Jeonghun Park; Chong Li; Seyedkianoush Hosseini; Wanshi Chen; Jing Jiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771225B2 ## CPC - H04L 5/0055: {Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK (for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861)} - H04L 1/08: by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system {(H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence)} - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04L 1/1887: {Scheduling and prioritising arrangements} - H04L 1/1896: {ARQ related signaling} - H04B 17/336: Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] - H04W 84/045: {using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may receive, from a base station, an indicator associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process; and decode the HARQ transmission based at least in part on the mini-slots. In some aspects, a base station may transmit an indicator, associated with a HARQ process, to a user equipment, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process; and transmit the HARQ transmission to the user equipment using the mini-slots. Numerous other aspects are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station (BS), an indicator associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process, wherein two or more of the mini-slots include a different portion of a same packet of the HARQ transmission, and wherein a longer length coding is used to divide and map the same packet across the two or more of the mini-slots; and decoding the HARQ transmission based at least in part on the mini-slots. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the mini-slots are associated with at least one of: a different resource block allocation, a different redundancy version, or a different modulation and coding scheme. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the number of the mini-slots or a time at which the indicator is received is based at least in part on at least one of: a round of the HARQ process associated with the HARQ transmission, a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, or an amount of available resource blocks for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is configured to decode the HARQ transmission using at least one of: a Chase combining scheme based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission, incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a different portion of a packet of the HARQ transmission, or incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission and different respective redundancy versions are used for the two or more of the mini-slots. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is configured to send an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement response based at least in part on at least one of: a determination that a repetition period, corresponding to the number of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission, has expired, a determination that the repetition period has expired and that a remaining latency period, of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, satisfies a threshold, a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded, or a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded and that the remaining latency period does not satisfy the threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is included in downlink control information (DCI) associated with the HARQ process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein a size of the DCI is based at least in part on the number of the mini-slots. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method claim 1, wherein the UE is configured to decode the mini-slots based at least in part on the number of the mini-slots indicated for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a bit size of the indicator is based at least in part on a round of the HARQ transmission, and wherein the round of the HARQ transmission is based at least in part on a number of HARQ transmissions that have occurred in the HARQ process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is configured to reply to the HARQ transmission with an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement response, and wherein a size of downlink control information (DCI) associated with a subsequent HARQ transmission of the HARQ process is increased based at least in part on the acknowledgement or the non-acknowledgement response. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is received in downlink control information (DCI), and wherein at least one of a size of the DCI or a time at which the DCI is received is based at least in part on radio resource control (RRC) signaling or dynamic Layer 1 signaling. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is configured to provide, to the BS, channel state information (CSI) feedback indicating an amount of resources to decode the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the UE is configured to calculate accumulated capacity based at least in part on a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the HARQ transmission, and wherein the amount of resources is based at least in part on a difference between a target capacity of the HARQ transmission and the accumulated capacity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the UE is further configured to send, to the BS, the CSI feedback with a non-acknowledgement response to the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of: the amount of the resources is based at least in part on a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, a size of the CSI feedback indicating the amount of resources is based at least in part on an amount of available uplink resources, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: receive, from a base station (BS), an indicator associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process; and decode the HARQ transmission based at least in part on the mini-slots, wherein the apparatus is configured to decode the HARQ transmission using at least one of: a Chase combining scheme based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission, incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a different portion of a packet of the HARQ transmission, or incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission and different respective redundancy versions are used for the two or more of the mini-slots. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least two of the mini-slots are associated with at least one of: a different resource block allocation, a different redundancy version, or a different modulation and coding scheme. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the number of the mini-slots or a time at which the indicator is received is based at least in part on at least one of: a round of the HARQ process associated with the HARQ transmission, a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, or an amount of available resource blocks for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein two or more of the mini-slots include a different portion of a same packet of the HARQ transmission, and wherein a longer length coding is used to divide and map the same packet across the two or more of the mini-slots. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured to send an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement response based at least in part on at least one of: a determination that a repetition period, corresponding to the number of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission, has expired, a determination that the repetition period has expired and that a remaining latency period, of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, satisfies a threshold, a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded, or a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded and that the remaining latency period does not satisfy the threshold. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the indicator is included in downlink control information (DCI) associated with the HARQ process. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a size of the DCI is based at least in part on the number of the mini-slots. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The apparatus claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured to decode the mini-slots based at least in part on the number of the mini-slots indicated for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a bit size of the indicator is based at least in part on a round of the HARQ transmission, and wherein the round of the HARQ transmission is based at least in part on a number of HARQ transmissions that have occurred in the HARQ process. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured to reply to the HARQ transmission with an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement response, and wherein a size of downlink control information (DCI) associated with a subsequent HARQ transmission of the HARQ process is increased based at least in part on the acknowledgement or the non-acknowledgement response. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the indicator is received in downlink control information (DCI), and wherein at least one of a size of the DCI or a time at which the DCI is received is based at least in part on radio resource control (RRC) signaling or dynamic Layer 1 signaling. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide, to the BS, channel state information (CSI) feedback indicating an amount of resources to decode the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is configured to calculate accumulated capacity based at least in part on a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the HARQ transmission, and wherein the amount of resources is based at least in part on a difference between a target capacity of the HARQ transmission and the accumulated capacity. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is further configured to send, to the BS, the CSI feedback with a non-acknowledgement response to the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least one of: the amount of the resources is based at least in part on a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, a size of the CSI feedback indicating the amount of resources is based at least in part on an amount of available uplink resources, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 32 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for wireless communication, comprising code for: receiving, from a base station (BS), an indicator associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process; decoding the HARQ transmission based at least in part on the mini-slots; and sending an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement response based at least in part on at least one of: a determination that a repetition period, corresponding to the number of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission, has expired, a determination that the repetition period has expired and that a remaining latency period, of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, satisfies a threshold, a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded, or a determination that each respective one of the mini-slots of the HARQ transmission has been received or decoded and that the remaining latency period does not satisfy the threshold. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein each of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein at least two of the mini-slots are associated with at least one of: a different resource block allocation, a different redundancy version; or a different modulation and coding scheme. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein at least one of the number of the mini-slots or a time at which the indicator is received is based at least in part on at least one of: a round of the HARQ process associated with the HARQ transmission, a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, or an amount of available resource blocks for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein two or more of the mini-slots include a different portion of a same packet of the HARQ transmission, and wherein a longer length coding is used to divide and map the same packet across the two or more of the mini-slots. ### Claim 37 An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: means for receiving, from a base station (BS), an indicator associated with a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, wherein the indicator indicates a number of mini-slots to be bundled for a HARQ transmission of the HARQ process; and means for decoding the HARQ transmission based at least in part on the mini-slots, means for calculating accumulated capacity based at least in part on a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the HARQ transmission; and means for providing, to the BS, channel state information (CSI) feedback indicating an amount of resources to decode the HARQ transmission; wherein the amount of resources is based at least in part on a difference between a target capacity of the HARQ transmission and the accumulated capacity. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein each of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein at least two of the mini-slots are associated with at least one of: a different resource block allocation, a different redundancy version; or a different modulation and coding scheme. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein at least one of the number of the mini-slots or a time at which the indicator is received is based at least in part on at least one of: a round of the HARQ process associated with the HARQ transmission, a remaining latency period of a threshold latency associated with the HARQ process, or an amount of available resource blocks for the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein two or more of the mini-slots include a different portion of a same packet of the HARQ transmission, and wherein a longer length coding is used to divide and map the same packet across the two or more of the mini-slots. ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the apparatus is configured to decode the HARQ transmission using a Chase combining scheme based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the apparatus is configured to decode the HARQ transmission using incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a different portion of a packet of the HARQ transmission. ### Claim 44 (depends on 37) The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the apparatus is configured to decode the HARQ transmission using incremental redundancy based at least in part on a determination that two or more of the mini-slots includes a same packet of the HARQ transmission and different respective redundancy versions are used for the two or more of the mini-slots.