Flexible Configuration of HARQ Process Feedback

Abstract

Embodiments include methods for a wireless device configured for TDD operation in a wireless communication network. Such methods include, during a first transmission-time interval (TTI), receiving from the wireless communication network an explicit request for ARQ feedback from the wireless device for an indicated subset of ARQ processes that were active in the wireless device during a plurality of consecutive downlink TTIs during which there are no available uplink TTIs. The explicit request indicates the subset of active ARQ processes by one of the following: a range of ARQ process identifiers corresponding to the subset; or a range of TTIs, indicating that the subset is all ARQ processes that were active during the indicated range of TTIs. Such methods include, during a second TTI after the first TTI, transmitting to the wireless communication network ARQ feedback information for the subset of active ARQ processes indicated in the explicit request.

1 . A method for a wireless device configured for time-division duplexing (TDD) operation in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 during a first transmission-time interval (TTI), receiving from the wireless communication network an explicit request for automatic repeat-request (ARQ) feedback from the wireless device for an indicated subset of ARQ processes that were active in the wireless device during a plurality of consecutive downlink TTIs during which there are no available uplink TTIs, wherein the explicit request indicates the subset of active ARQ processes by one of the following: 
 a range of ARQ process identifiers corresponding to the subset, or 
 a range of TTIs, indicating that the subset is all ARQ processes that were active during the indicated range of TTIs; and 
   during a second TTI after the first TTI, transmitting to the wireless communication network ARQ feedback information for the subset of active ARQ processes indicated in the explicit request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the explicit request for ARQ feedback is received as part of or in association with a resource assignment message allocating downlink or uplink resources to the wireless device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the resource assignment message allocates uplink resources for transmitting the ARQ feedback information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the resource assignment message includes a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) for the wireless device; and   the RNTI indicates that the resource assignment message includes the explicit request for ARQ feedback.   
     
     
         5 . A method for a network node configured for time-division duplexing (TDD) operation in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 during a first transmission-time interval (TTI), transmitting to the wireless device an explicit request for automatic repeat-request (ARQ) feedback from the wireless device for an indicated subset of ARQ processes that were active in the wireless device during a plurality of consecutive downlink TTIs during which there are no available uplink TTIs, wherein the explicit request indicates the subset of active ARQ processes by one of the following: 
 a range of ARQ process identifiers corresponding to the subset, or 
 a range of TTIs, indicating that the subset is all ARQ processes that were active during the indicated range of TTIs; and 
   during a second TTI after the first TTI, receiving from the wireless device ARQ feedback information for the subset of active ARQ processes indicated in the explicit request.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the explicit request for ARQ feedback is transmitted as part of or in association with a resource assignment message allocating downlink or uplink resources to the wireless device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the resource assignment message allocates uplink resources for transmitting the ARQ feedback information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein:
 the resource assignment message includes a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) for the wireless device; and 
 the RNTI indicates that the resource assignment message includes the explicit request for ARQ feedback. 
 
     
     
         9 . A wireless device configured for time-division duplexing (TDD)_operation in a wireless communication network, the wireless device comprising:
 a radio transceiver configured to communicate with a network node; and   processing circuitry operably coupled to the radio transceiver, whereby the processing circuitry and radio transceiver are configured to: 
 during a first transmission-time interval (TTI), receive from the wireless communication network an explicit request for automatic repeat-request (ARQ) feedback from the wireless device for an indicated subset of ARQ processes that were active in the wireless device during a plurality of consecutive downlink TTIs during which there are no available uplink TTIs, wherein the explicit request indicates the subset of active ARQ processes by one of the following: 
 a range of ARQ process identifiers corresponding to the subset, or 
 a range of TTIs, indicating that the subset is all ARQ processes that were active during the indicated range of TTIs; and 
   during a second TTI after the first TTI, transmit to the wireless communication network ARQ feedback information for the subset of active ARQ processes indicated in the explicit request.   
     
     
         10 . The wireless device of  claim 9 , wherein the explicit request for ARQ feedback is received as part of or in association with a resource assignment message allocating downlink or uplink resources to the wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein the resource assignment message allocates uplink resources for transmitting the ARQ feedback information. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless device of  claim 10  wherein:
 the resource assignment message includes a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) for the wireless device; and 
 the RNTI indicates that the resource assignment message includes the explicit request for ARQ feedback. 
 
     
     
         13 . A network node configured for time-division duplexing (TDD) operation in a wireless communication network, the network node comprising:
 a radio transceiver configured to communicate with wireless devices; and   processing circuitry operably coupled to the radio transceiver, whereby the processing circuitry and radio transceiver are configured to: 
 during a first transmission-time interval (TTI), transmit to the wireless device an explicit request for automatic repeat-request (ARQ) feedback from the wireless device for an indicated subset of ARQ processes that were active in the wireless device during a plurality of consecutive downlink TTIs during which there are no available uplink TTIs, wherein the explicit request indicates the subset of active ARQ processes by one of the following: 
 a range of ARQ process identifiers corresponding to the subset, or 
 a range of TTIs, indicating that the subset is all ARQ processes that were active during the indicated range of TTIs; and 
   during a second TTI after the first TTI, receive from the wireless device ARQ feedback information for the subset of active ARQ processes indicated in the explicit request.   
     
     
         14 . The network node of  claim 13 , wherein the explicit request for ARQ feedback is transmitted as part of or in association with a resource assignment message allocating downlink or uplink resources to the wireless device. 
     
     
         15 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein the resource assignment message allocates uplink resources for transmitting the ARQ feedback information. 
     
     
         16 . The network node of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the resource assignment message includes a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) for the wireless device; and   the RNTI indicates that the resource assignment message includes the explicit request for ARQ feedback.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a wireless device configured for time-division duplexing (TDD) operation in a wireless communication network, configure the wireless device to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a network node configured for time-division duplexing (TDD) operation in a wireless communication network, configure the network node to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 5 .