Method and transceiving device for retransmitting erroneous information units in radio links

Abstract

The present invention is related to an error handling in transmission of information units in radio links and in particular it is related to an error handling using automatic repeat request (ARQ) and transmission of information units in mobile communication. To reduce the access delay of packet data services, the present invention uses different code ratings according to type II hybrid ARQ for different erroneous information units selected from a formatted block of information units before retransmission. Therefore erroneous information units of a block of information units, that have been transmitted, are selected and the set of selected erroneous information units is divided into a set of n subsets encoded with n code ratings. Advantageously, the retransmission of portions of the formatted block with different code ratings enhances the reliability of the retransmission.

1. A method for retransmitting a formatted block of information units that have been transmitted in radio links using a first number of data bits per coded bits, comprising:
 selecting all erroneous units of said block of information units that have been transmitted; 
 dividing said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2; 
 selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits; 
 encoding all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of the a first erroneous units unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits; 
 formatting a block composed of said encoded erroneous units; and 
 transmitting said formatted block. 
 
     
     
       2. A The method according to of  claim 1 , wherein formatting a block of said encoded erroneous units comprises the step of interleaving at least two of said encoded erroneous units. 
     
     
       3. A The method according to of  claim 1 , wherein said first number of data bits per coded bits is greater than each number of data bits per coded bits out of said set of numbers of data bits per coded bits. 
     
     
       4. A The method according to of  claim 1 , with n equal to 2, wherein one subset consists of a said first erroneous unit and the other subset consists of all other erroneous units. 
     
     
       5. A The method according to of  claim 4 , wherein said first subset consisting of a first transmitted erroneous unit is encoded using a number of data bits per coded bits which is smaller than the number of data bits per coded bits used to encode said second subset. 
     
     
       6. A The method according to of  claim 3 , wherein each of said subsets contains one single erroneous unit. 
     
     
       7. A The method according to of  claim 1 , wherein said subsets are ordered according to a timely sequence of their transmission. 
     
     
       8. A The method according to of  claim 1 , wherein the set of said numbers of data bits per coded bits is ordered according to the numbers of data bits per coded bits. 
     
     
       9. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of  claim 1  when said program product is run on a computer or network device. 
     
     
       10. A computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out the method of  claim 1  when said program product is run on a computer or network device. 
     
     
       11. A transceiving device, comprising:
 a component for transceiving information units; 
 a component for selecting erroneous units that have been corrupted during transmission; 
 a component for requesting a retransmission of said erroneous unit; 
 a component for receiving a retransmission request; 
 a component for dividing said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2; 
 a component for selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits; 
 a component for selectively modulating all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of the a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits; and 
 an encoding component for formatting a block composed of said encoded erroneous units. 
 
     
     
       12. A The transceiving device according to of  claim 11 , wherein said transceiving device is a terminal device. 
     
     
       13. A The transceiving device according to of  claim 12 , wherein said transceiving device is a mobile terminal device. 
     
     
       14. A The transceiving device according to of to  claim 13 , wherein said transceiving device is an access point in mobile communication. 
     
     
       15. A communication network comprising:
 at least one transceiving device according to  claim 11 ; and 
 at least one access point in communication for said transceiving device and forming part of a network. 
 
     
     
       16. A The communication network according to of  claim 15 , further comprising a server, characterised in that said server is coupled to another network. 
     
     
       17. A The communication network according to of  claim 16 , wherein at least one network is a network in mobile communication. 
     
     
       18. A The communication network according to of  claim 16 , wherein said network is the Internet. 
     
     
       19. A transceiving device, comprising:
 means for transceiving information units; 
 means for selecting erroneous units that have been corrupted during transmission; 
 means for requesting a retransmission of said erroneous unit; 
 means for receiving a retransmission request; 
 means for dividing said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2; 
 means for selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits; 
 means for selectively modulating all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of the a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits; and 
 means for formatting a block composed of said encoded erroneous units. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for retransmitting a formatted block of information units that have been transmitted in radio links using a first number of data bits per coded bits, comprising:
 receiving a request for retransmission of erroneous units of the formatted block of information units that have been transmitted, wherein the request includes n subsets of erroneous units and a selected set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits;   encoding all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein said distinct number of data bits per coded bits of a first erroneous unit is a lowest number of data bits per coded bits;   formatting a block composed of said encoded erroneous units; and   transmitting said formatted block.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein formatting a block of said encoded erroneous units comprises interleaving at least two of said encoded erroneous units. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first number of data bits per coded bits is greater than each number of data bits per coded bits out of said set of numbers of data bits per coded bits. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 20, with n equal to 2, wherein one subset consists of said first erroneous unit and the other subset consists of all other erroneous units. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein said first subset consisting of a first transmitted erroneous unit is encoded using a number of data bits per coded bits which is smaller than the number of data bits per coded bits used to encode said second subset. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 22, wherein each of said subsets contains one single erroneous unit. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 20, wherein said subsets are ordered according to a timely sequence of their transmission. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 20, wherein the set of said numbers of data bits per coded bits is ordered according to the numbers of data bits per coded bits. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the request for retransmission of erroneous units comprises receiving the request at a transceiver of a mobile terminal device. 
     
     
       29. An article of manufacture including a computer program product having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 selecting all erroneous units of said block of information units that have been transmitted;   dividing said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2;   selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits; encoding all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits;   formatting a block composed of said encoded erroneous units; and transmitting said formatted block.   
     
     
       30. A transceiving device, comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transceive information units;   a selector module configured to select erroneous units that have been corrupted during transmission;   a requestor module configured to request a retransmission of said erroneous unit;   a receiver configured to receive a retransmission request;   a divider module configured to divide said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2;   a selector configured to select a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits;   a modulator configured to selectively modulate all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits; and   an encoder configured to format a block composed of said encoded erroneous units.   
     
     
       31. The transceiving device of claim 30, wherein said transceiving device is a terminal device. 
     
     
       32. The transceiving device of claim 31, wherein said transceiving device is a mobile terminal device. 
     
     
       33. The transceiving device of claim 32, wherein said transceiving device is an access point in mobile communication. 
     
     
       34. A communication network comprising:
 at least one transceiving device according to claim 30; and   at least one access point in communication for said transceiving device and forming part of a network.   
     
     
       35. The communication network of claim 34, further comprising a server, characterised in that said server is coupled to another network. 
     
     
       36. The communication network of claim 35, wherein at least one network is a network in mobile communication. 
     
     
       37. The communication network of claim 35, wherein said network is the Internet. 
     
     
       38. A transceiving device, comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transceive information units;   a receiver configured to receive a retransmission request;   a divider module configured to divide a selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2;   a selector configured to select a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits;   a modulator that selectively modulates all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits; and   an encoder configured to format a block composed of said encoded erroneous units.   
     
     
       39. A transceiving device, comprising:
 a selector module configured to select erroneous units that have been corrupted during transmission;   a requestor module configured to request a retransmission of said erroneous units in the form of encoded erroneous units; and   a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a formatted block composed of said encoded erroneous units, the encoded erroneous units being created by dividing said selected set of erroneous units into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2, wherein further a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits is selected, wherein further all erroneous units of each of said subsets are selectively modulated with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits, and wherein further the number of data bits per coded bits of a first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits.