Hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) with spatial diversity

A method, in an antenna processing node of a distributed wireless system that comprises a controlling node, the antenna processing node, and one or more additional antenna processing nodes, each of the antenna processing nodes being communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the controlling node, information corresponding to first data for transmission to a wireless device in a first interval;
• storing the information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device in the first interval;
• receiving, after the first interval has passed, a command instructing the antenna processing node to transmit the first data to the wireless device in a second interval;
• and
• transmitting the first data to the wireless device in the second interval.

A method, in an antenna processing node of a distributed wireless system that comprises a controlling node, the antenna processing node, and one or more additional antenna processing nodes, each of the antenna processing nodes being communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, the method comprising:

• receiving, from the controlling node, information corresponding to first data for transmission to a wireless device in a first interval;
• storing the information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device in the first interval;
• receiving, after the first interval has passed, signaling indicating that information corresponding to the first data may be discarded;
• and
• discarding the stored information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device.

A controlling node apparatus for use in a distributed wireless system that comprises the controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, the controlling node apparatus comprising:

• serial interface circuitry configured to send data to and receive data from the antenna processing nodes;
• and
• a processing circuit operatively coupled to the serial interface circuitry and configured to:
• send a first command to a first one of the two or more antenna processing nodes, the first command instructing the first one of the two or more antenna processing nodes to transmit first data to a wireless device;
• and
• responsive to determining that the wireless device has not successfully decoded the first data, send a second command to a second one of the two or more antenna processing nodes, the second command instructing the second one of the two or more antenna processing nodes to transmit the first data to the wireless device.

An antenna processing node, for use in a distributed wireless system that comprises a controlling node, the antenna processing node, and one or more additional antenna processing nodes, each of the antenna processing nodes being communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, wherein the antenna processing node comprises:

• radio circuitry configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more wireless devices;
• serial interface circuitry configured to communicate over a serial link with the controlling node;
• and
• a processing circuit operatively coupled to the serial interface circuitry and configured to:
• receive, from the controlling node, information corresponding to first data for transmission to a wireless device in a first interval;
• store the information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device in the first interval;
• receive, after the first interval has passed, a command instructing the antenna processing node to transmit the first data to the wireless device in a second interval;
• and
• transmit the first data to the wireless device in the second interval.

An antenna processing node, for use in a distributed wireless system that comprises a controlling node, the antenna processing node, and one or more additional antenna processing nodes, each of the antenna processing nodes being communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, wherein the antenna processing node comprises:

• radio circuitry configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more wireless devices;
• serial interface circuitry configured to communicate over a serial link with the controlling node;
• and
• a processing circuit operatively coupled to the serial interface circuitry and configured to:
• receive, from the controlling node, information corresponding to first data for transmission to a wireless device in a first interval;
• store the information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device in the first interval;
• receiving, after the first interval has passed, signaling indicating that information corresponding to the first data may be discarded;
• and
• discarding the stored information corresponding to the first data, without transmitting it to the wireless device.