Method and System for Improving Performance of Broadcast/Multicast Transmissions

A method, at a first client node, for acknowledging information in a communication system, wherein the communication system includes an access node, wherein the access node transmits subpackets on a broadcast/multicast channel to the first client node according to hybrid ARQ, wherein the client node transmits feedback to the access node on a feedback channel, and wherein the feedback channel contains a plurality of sub-channels, the method comprising:

• receiving a first subpacket on the broadcast/multicast channel from the access node, wherein the first subpacket is derived from a full packet;
• attempting to decode the full packet from the first subpacket;
• determining that the full packet cannot be decoded from the first subpacket;
• choosing a first sub-channel from the plurality of sub-channels;
• transmitting a first negative acknowledgement to the access node on the first sub-channel, thereby seeking to trigger the access node to transmit a second subpacket, wherein the second subpacket also is derived from the full packet;
• after transmitting the first negative acknowledgement, making a determination that the access node has not transmitted the second subpacket;
• choosing a second sub-channel from the plurality of sub-channels, wherein the second sub-channel is different from the first sub-channel;
• and
• transmitting a second negative acknowledgement to the access node on the second sub-channel, thereby seeking to trigger the access node to transmit the second subpacket.

A communication system comprising:

• a BTS radiating to define a broadcast/multicast channel and a feedback channel, wherein the feedback channel contains a plurality of sub-channels;
• an access node;
• and
• a first client node, wherein the access node transmits a first subpacket and a second subpacket on the broadcast/multicast channel according to hybrid ARQ procedures, wherein the first subpacket and the second subpacket are derived from a full packet, wherein the first client node (1) receives the first subpacket, (2) fails to decode the full packet from the first subpacket, (3) randomly chooses a first sub-channel from the plurality of sub-channels, and (4) transmits a first negative acknowledgment to the access node on the first sub-channel, wherein the first negative acknowledgment seeks to trigger the access node into transmitting the second subpacket, and wherein the access node transmits the second subpacket in response to the access node receiving a number of negative acknowledgments that exceeds a pre-determined threshold.