Method and apparatus for time efficient retransmission using symbol accumulation

Abstract

An efficient retransmission of data using symbol accumulation wherein the packet received in error is retransmitted at a lower energy-per-bit level concurrently in the same frame with the new packet. The destination device receives the data transmission and retransmission, demodulate the signal, and separates the received data into the new and retransmitted packet. The destination device then accumulates the energy of the retransmitted packet with the energy already accumulated for the packet received in error and decodes the accumulated packet. The accumulation of the additional energy provided by the subsequent retransmissions improves the probability of a correct decoding. The throughput rate can be improved since the packet received in error is retransmitted concurrently with the transmission of the new data packet. The capacity is maximized since the retransmission of the packet received in error is at a lower energy level than that of the new packet.

1 . A method for communicating data, comprising: 
 encoding data bits of a packet of data at an encoding rate to produce a plurality of code symbols for each respective data bit of the packet of data;    puncturing the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a first puncturing pattern to produce a first punctured packet of data;    transmitting the first punctured packet of data;    receiving a first negative acknowledgment indicating unsuccessful decoding of the packet of data after said transmitting the first punctured packet of data;    puncturing the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a second puncturing pattern to produce a second punctured packet of data;    transmitting the second punctured packet of data in response to said receiving the first negative acknowledgment.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the second punctured packet of data includes code symbols different from the code symbols included in the first punctured packet of data.    
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the first and second punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.    
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the first and second punctured packets of data have no code symbols in common with each other.    
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a second negative acknowledgment indicating unsuccessful decoding of the packet of data after said transmitting the second punctured packet of data;    puncturing the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a third puncturing pattern to produce a third punctured packet of data;    transmitting the third punctured packet of data in response to said receiving the second negative acknowledgment.    
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first, second, and third puncturing patterns to produce the first, second, and third punctured packets of data such that the first, second, and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.    
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first, second, and third puncturing patterns to produce the first, second, and third punctured packets of data such that the first, second, and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.    
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first and third puncturing patterns to produce the first and third punctured packets of data such that the first and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.    
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the first and third puncturing patterns to produce the first and third punctured packets of data such that the first and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.    
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the second and third puncturing patterns to produce the second and third punctured packets of data such that the second and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.    
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 selecting the second and third puncturing patterns to produce the second and third punctured packets of data such that the second and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for communicating data, comprising: 
 an encoder configured to encode data bits of a packet of data at an encoding rate to produce a plurality of code symbols for each respective data bit of the packet of data;    a processor configured to puncture the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a first puncturing pattern to produce a first punctured packet of data;    a transmitter configured to transmit the first punctured packet of data;    a receiver configured to receive a first negative acknowledgment indicating unsuccessful decoding of the packet of data after said transmitter transmitting the first punctured packet of data;    said processor further configured to puncture the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a second puncturing pattern to produce a second punctured packet of data;    said transmitter further configured to transmit the second punctured packet of data in response to said receiver receiving the first negative acknowledgment.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to select the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the second punctured packet of data includes code symbols different from the code symbols included in the first punctured packet of data.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to select the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the first and second punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a controller configured to select the first and second puncturing patterns to produce the first and second punctured packets of data such that the first and second punctured packets of data have no code symbols in common with each other.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said receiver is further configured to receive a second negative acknowledgment indicating unsuccessful decoding of the packet of data after said transmitter transmitting the second punctured packet of data, wherein said processor is further configured to puncture the code symbols of the data packet in accordance with a third puncturing pattern to produce a third punctured packet of data, and wherein said transmitter is further configured to transmit the third punctured packet of data in response to said receiver receiving the second negative acknowledgment.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to select the first, second, and third puncturing patterns to produce the first, second, and third punctured packets of data such that the first, second, and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to select the first, second, and third puncturing patterns to produce the first, second, and third punctured packets of data such that the first, second, and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to select the first and third puncturing patterns to produce the first and third punctured packets of data such that the first and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said controller is further configured to select the first and third puncturing patterns to produce the first and third punctured packets of data such that the first and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to select the second and third puncturing patterns to produce second and third punctured packets of data such that the second and third punctured packets of data have at least one code symbol in common with each other.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said controller is further configured to select the second and third puncturing patterns to produce the second and third punctured packets of data such that the second and third punctured packets of data have different code symbols from each other.