US20210226733A1 - Communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method - Google Patents
Communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method Download PDFInfo
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- US20210226733A1 US20210226733A1 US17/226,380 US202117226380A US2021226733A1 US 20210226733 A1 US20210226733 A1 US 20210226733A1 US 202117226380 A US202117226380 A US 202117226380A US 2021226733 A1 US2021226733 A1 US 2021226733A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1809—Selective-repeat protocols
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1825—Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1812—Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
- H04L1/1816—Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] with retransmission of the same, encoded, message
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1867—Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
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- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1867—Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
- H04L1/1887—Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
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- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1867—Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
- H04L1/189—Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/18—Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
- H04L1/1867—Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
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- H04W28/04—Error control
Definitions
- the present invention relates to, for example, a communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method that are for performing wireless communication.
- wireless communication systems such as mobile communication systems
- the amount of data transmitted and received in the wireless communication systems has been increasing due to an increase in the number of communication terminals connected to each other, higher quality of transmitted data, diversification of provided services, or the like.
- various techniques have been developed and standardized as standards for the wireless communication systems.
- Examples of the related art include [NPL 1: 3GPP TS36.300 v13.3.0, March 2016], [NPL 2: 3GPP TS36.211 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 3: 3GPP TS36.212 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 4: 3GPP TS36.213 v13.1.1, March 2016], [NPL 5: 3GPP TS36.321 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 6: 3GPP TS36.322 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 7: 3GPP TS36.323 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 8: 3GPP TS36.331 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 9: 3GPP TS36.413 v13.2.0, March 2016], [NPL 10: 3GPP TS36.423 v13.3.0, March 2016], [NPL 11: 3GPP TS36.881 v0.6.0, February 2016].
- a communication apparatus includes a radio processing unit configured to transmit or receive a radio signal; and a control unit configured to control application of retransmission control in accordance with information indicating whether or not to apply the retransmission control, the information being included in a radio signal received from another communication apparatus via the radio processing unit.
- a wireless communication system including a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus.
- the first communication apparatus is configured to transmit a radio signal to the second communication apparatus, the radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control
- the second communication apparatus is configured to control application of the retransmission control in accordance with the information.
- a wireless communication method in a wireless communication system including a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus.
- the wireless communication method includes transmitting, with the first communication apparatus, a radio signal to the second communication apparatus, the radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control; and controlling, with the second communication apparatus, application of the retransmission control in accordance with the information.
- a communication apparatus includes a radio processing unit configured to transmit or receive a radio signal; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, based on at least any of a communication state of wireless communication with another communication apparatus, a communication amount of the wireless communication, and a type of data transmitted between the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus, to generate, based on a result of the determination, a radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply the retransmission control, and to transmit the radio signal to the other communication apparatus via the radio processing unit.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of a communication process related to retransmission control.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of one communication apparatus included in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the one communication apparatus related to retransmission control.
- FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the one communication apparatus related to retransmission control.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of another communication apparatus included in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the other communication apparatus related to retransmission control.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a base station.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mobile station.
- FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is applied
- FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is not applied.
- FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus that is capable of increasing communication efficiency of a wireless communication network.
- Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest is one of techniques related to retransmission control in which a transmission-side communication apparatus retransmits data when a reception-side communication apparatus fails to correctly receive the data, and is a combination of Forward Error Correction (FEC) code and Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ).
- FEC Forward Error Correction
- ARQ Automatic Repeat reQuest
- a reception-side communication apparatus such as a base station transmits an ACK (Acknowledge) signal or a NACK (Negative Acknowledge) signal to a transmission-side communication apparatus, such as a mobile station, to notify the transmission-side communication apparatus whether or not data received from the transmission-side communication apparatus has.
- the transmission-side communication apparatus that has received the NACK signal divides the data into portions and retransmits the data portion by portion. Accordingly, the reception-side communication apparatus that has once failed to the data becomes able to normally reproduce the data.
- LLC Traffic Low Latency Communication Traffic
- suppression of delay may take priority over suppression of transmission error. In this case, retransmission control is not necessarily performed.
- CB-PUSCH Contention-Based Physical Uplink Shared CHannel
- HARQ is applied in such a case, an ACK signal or a NACK signal is transmitted although retransmission control is not to be performed, and thus communication efficiency in wireless communication is decreased.
- one of communication apparatuses determines, based on at least any of a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of data that is transmitted, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control, and notifies the other communication apparatus whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the other communication apparatus controls application of retransmission control.
- the other communication apparatus adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to a signal that is to be transmitted when applying retransmission control, and does not add the error detection code to the signal that is to be transmitted when not applying retransmission control. Accordingly, the communication apparatuses and a wireless communication system including the communication apparatuses increase communication efficiency.
- each of a base station and a mobile station is an example of a communication apparatus.
- Node B, eNode B, new eNode B, an access point, or the like is an example of a base station.
- a mobile terminal or user equipment (UE) is an example of a mobile station.
- HARQ, ARQ, or the like is an example of retransmission control.
- An error detection code related to retransmission control is an error detection code that is used by a reception-side communication apparatus to determine whether or not to issue a retransmission request in accordance with whether or not received data is normally reproduced. It is assumed that the error detection code includes an error correction code.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment.
- a wireless communication system 1 includes a communication apparatus 11 and a communication apparatus 12 .
- the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 transmit a signal to each other through wireless communication.
- Either or both of the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 may be a mobile terminal or may be a fixed communication apparatus.
- the communication apparatus 11 determines, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, whether or not to apply retransmission control, in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of wireless communication between the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 , or the type of data transmitted between the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 .
- the communication apparatus 11 Every time the communication apparatus 11 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, the communication apparatus 11 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and transmits the control signal to the communication apparatus 12 .
- the communication apparatus 11 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with a determination result of whether or not to apply retransmission control in the wireless communication with the communication apparatus 12 . That is, when retransmission control is not applied, the communication apparatus 11 does not transmit a response signal such as ACK or NACK to the communication apparatus 12 regardless of whether or not data included in a radio signal received from the communication apparatus 12 is normally reproduced.
- the communication apparatus 11 executes, on a radio signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the radio signal in accordance with application of retransmission control, thereby determining whether or not the data included in the radio signal is. Subsequently, the communication apparatus 11 transmits a response signal to the communication apparatus 12 , the response signal varying in accordance with, for example, whether or not the data included in the radio signal received from the communication apparatus 12 has. For example, when the data included in the radio signal received from the communication apparatus 12 is, the communication apparatus 11 transmits an ACK signal to the communication apparatus 12 .
- the communication apparatus 11 transmits a NACK signal to the communication apparatus 12 .
- the error detection code a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code is used, for example.
- the communication apparatus 12 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information. That is, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, the communication apparatus 12 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, the communication apparatus 12 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the radio signal to be transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 .
- the communication apparatus 12 is not requested to store, for the purpose of retransmission, data included in the radio signal transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 in a storage unit of the communication apparatus 12 , and thus the communication apparatus 12 may discard the data included in the radio signal after transmitting the radio signal.
- the communication apparatus 12 applies retransmission control.
- the communication apparatus 12 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to the radio signal to be transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 .
- the communication apparatus 12 causes the data included in the radio signal transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 to be kept stored in the storage unit of the communication apparatus 12 until it is determined that the transmitted data has in the communication apparatus 11 or until a certain period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted.
- the communication apparatus 12 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from the communication apparatus 11 , the communication apparatus 12 retransmits a radio signal including part or whole of the data in accordance with the signal.
- a signal requesting retransmission for example, a NACK signal
- FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of a communication process related to retransmission control according to the present embodiment.
- the communication apparatus 11 determines, based on any of a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of transmitted data regarding the wireless communication with the communication apparatus 12 , whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S 101 ). Subsequently, the communication apparatus 11 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmits the control signal to the communication apparatus 12 (step S 102 ).
- the communication apparatus 12 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the information included in the control signal and indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S 103 ). Subsequently, the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 execute wireless communication in accordance with a control result of application of retransmission control (step S 104 ).
- FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the communication apparatus 11 .
- the communication apparatus 11 includes an antenna 21 , a radio processing unit 22 , a storage unit 23 , and a control unit 24 .
- the radio processing unit 22 , the storage unit 23 , and the control unit 24 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be mounted, in the communication apparatus 11 , as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated.
- the antenna 21 transmits a transmission signal received via the radio processing unit 22 , the transmission signal being a radio signal. Also, the antenna 21 receives a radio signal from the communication apparatus 12 , converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a reception signal, and transmits the reception signal to the radio processing unit 22 .
- the antenna 21 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other.
- the radio processing unit 22 converts the transmission signal received from the control unit 24 into an analog signal and then superimposes the transmission signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by the control unit 24 . Subsequently, the radio processing unit 22 amplifies the transmission signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the transmission signal to the antenna 21 .
- the radio processing unit 22 amplifies the reception signal received from the antenna 21 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated).
- the radio processing unit 22 multiplies the amplified reception signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the reception signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 22 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the reception signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the reception signal to the control unit 24 .
- the storage unit 23 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory.
- the storage unit 23 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with the communication apparatus 12 , various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by the communication apparatus 11 or that have been received by the communication apparatus 11 , various programs to be executed by the communication apparatus 11 , and so forth. Furthermore, the storage unit 23 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the control unit 24 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof.
- the control unit 24 modulates a transmission signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation scheme and also multiplexes the transmission signal. Subsequently, the control unit 24 transmits the modulated and multiplexed transmission signal to the radio processing unit 22 .
- control unit 24 demultiplexes the reception signal received from the radio processing unit 22 in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing scheme, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. Subsequently, the control unit 24 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signals. Subsequently, the control unit 24 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data.
- control unit 24 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control.
- control unit 24 executes various processes for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control unit 24 related to retransmission control.
- the control unit 24 includes a retransmission control unit 241 , a notification unit 242 , and a retransmission control execution unit 243 .
- These individual units included in the control unit 24 are implemented by a computer program that runs on a processor included in the control unit 24 .
- these individual units included in the control unit 24 may be implemented, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which circuits for executing the functions of the individual units are integrated, in the communication apparatus 11 separately from the processor included in the control unit 24 .
- the retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 , or the type of data transmitted between the communication apparatus 11 and the communication apparatus 12 .
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the value of a parameter representing radio quality of a radio signal received from the communication apparatus 12 satisfies a predetermined quality standard. On the other hand, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the value of the parameter representing the radio quality does not satisfy the predetermined quality standard.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the amount of data transmitted at one time is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the amount of data transmitted at one time is larger than the predetermined threshold.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the relative speed of the communication apparatus 12 to the communication apparatus 11 is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the relative speed is higher than the predetermined threshold.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the communication apparatus 11 is able to set a plurality of communication available ranges and the communication apparatus 12 moves from one of the communication available ranges to another one of the communication available ranges in a latest predetermined period. On the other hand, when the communication apparatus 12 stays within any one of the communication available ranges in the latest predetermined period, the communication apparatus 11 may determine not to apply retransmission control.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the data transmitted from the communication apparatus 12 to the communication apparatus 11 is data of LLC Traffic, such as streaming data or voice call data. Also, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the data transmitted from the communication apparatus 12 to the communication apparatus 11 is data that is transmitted at a regular interval, such as data of Internet of Things (IoT). On the other hand, when the data transmitted from the communication apparatus 12 to the communication apparatus 11 is data that is requested to be normally reproduced in the communication apparatus 11 or an apparatus to which the data is transferred via the communication apparatus 11 , the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control.
- IoT Internet of Things
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine, based on a combination of two or more among a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of data, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control. For example, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when a condition for applying retransmission control is satisfied regarding any of the foregoing several example parameters, and otherwise, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control.
- the retransmission control unit 241 transmits information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to the notification unit 242 and the retransmission control execution unit 243 .
- the notification unit 242 Every time the retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, the notification unit 242 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- This control signal is an example of a transmission signal transmitted from the communication apparatus 11 to the communication apparatus 12 . Subsequently, the notification unit 242 transmits the control signal to the communication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and the antenna 21 .
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 executes retransmission control.
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of the communication apparatus 11 related to retransmission control, executed by the retransmission control execution unit 243 .
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 determines, based on the information received from the retransmission control unit 241 and indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S 201 ).
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 executes, in accordance with the application of retransmission control, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to data included in a reception signal from the communication apparatus 12 on the data. Subsequently, the retransmission control execution unit 243 determines whether or not the data is normally reproduced (step S 202 ).
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 generates, for example, a response signal that varies in accordance with whether or not the data included in the reception signal has normally been reproduced. For example, when the data included in the reception signal is normally reproduced (YES in step S 202 ), the retransmission control execution unit 243 generates an ACK signal and transmits the ACK signal to the communication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and the antenna 21 (step S 203 ).
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 when the data included in the reception signal is not normally reproduced (NO in step S 202 ), the retransmission control execution unit 243 generates a NACK signal and transmits the NACK signal to the communication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and the antenna 21 (step S 204 ).
- the NACK signal is an example of a retransmission request signal for requesting retransmission of data to the communication apparatus 12 .
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 the data included in the original reception signal by using data retransmitted in accordance with retransmission control adopted by the wireless communication system 1 (step S 205 ).
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 may repeat the process from step S 202 as appropriate.
- step S 201 when retransmission control is not applied in step S 201 (NO in step S 201 ), the retransmission control execution unit 243 does not execute retransmission control.
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 does not generate a response signal such as ACK or NACK regardless of whether or not the data included in the reception signal received from the communication apparatus 12 is normally reproduced.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the communication apparatus 12 .
- the communication apparatus 12 includes an antenna 31 , a radio processing unit 32 , a storage unit 33 , and a control unit 34 .
- the radio processing unit 32 , the storage unit 33 , and the control unit 34 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be may be mounted, in the communication apparatus 12 , as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated.
- the antenna 31 transmits a transmission signal received via the radio processing unit 32 , the transmission signal being a radio signal. Also, the antenna 31 receives a radio signal from the communication apparatus 11 , converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a reception signal, and transmits the reception signal to the radio processing unit 32 .
- the antenna 31 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other.
- the radio processing unit 32 converts the transmission signal received from the control unit 34 into an analog signal and then superimposes the transmission signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by the control unit 34 . Subsequently, the radio processing unit 32 amplifies the transmission signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the transmission signal to the antenna 31 .
- the radio processing unit 32 amplifies the reception signal received from the antenna 31 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated).
- the radio processing unit 32 multiplies the amplified reception signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the reception signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 32 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the reception signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the reception signal to the control unit 34 .
- the storage unit 33 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory.
- the storage unit 33 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with the communication apparatus 11 , various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by the communication apparatus 12 or that have been received by the communication apparatus 12 , various programs to be executed by the communication apparatus 12 , and so forth. Furthermore, the storage unit 33 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to execute retransmission control. Furthermore, when retransmission control is applied, the storage unit 33 stores, for a predetermined period, a transmission signal that has been transmitted.
- the control unit 34 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof.
- the control unit 34 modulates a transmission signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation scheme and also multiplexes the transmission signal. Subsequently, the control unit 34 transmits the modulated and multiplexed transmission signal to the radio processing unit 32 .
- control unit 34 demultiplexes the reception signal received from the radio processing unit 32 in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing scheme, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. Subsequently, the control unit 34 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signals. Subsequently, the control unit 34 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data.
- control unit 34 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control.
- control unit 34 every time the control unit 34 receives a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from the communication apparatus 11 , the control unit 34 refers to the information and controls application of retransmission control.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operation of the communication apparatus 12 related to retransmission control, executed by the control unit 34 .
- the control unit 34 determines whether or not a received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied (step S 301 ).
- the control unit 34 applies retransmission control.
- the control unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 by adding an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in the transmission signal (step S 302 ). Subsequently, the control unit 34 transmits the transmission signal to the communication apparatus 11 via the radio processing unit 32 and the antenna 31 .
- control unit 34 causes the data included in the transmission signal transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 to be kept stored in the storage unit 33 until it is determined that the transmitted data has normally been reproduced in the communication apparatus 11 or until a predetermined period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted (step S 303 ).
- control unit 34 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from the communication apparatus 11 , the control unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be retransmitted, including part or whole of the data included in the transmission signal.
- the control unit 34 transmits the generated transmission signal to the communication apparatus 11 via the radio processing unit 32 and the antenna 31 (step S 304 ).
- the control unit 34 does not apply retransmission control.
- the control unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 without adding an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the transmission signal (step S 305 ).
- the control unit 34 transmits the transmission signal to the communication apparatus 11 via the radio processing unit 32 and the antenna 31 .
- the control unit 34 may discard the data included in the transmission signal transmitted to the communication apparatus 11 , without storing the data in the storage unit 33 .
- this wireless communication system determines whether or not to apply retransmission control and notifies the other communication apparatus whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the other communication apparatus controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the notification. Accordingly, this wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to apply retransmission control, and is thus able to suppress a decrease in communication efficiency caused by retransmission control when retransmission control is not to be applied. As a result, this wireless communication system and each communication apparatus included in this wireless communication system are able to increase communication efficiency.
- This wireless communication system includes a base station and a mobile station.
- the base station determines, based on a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication with the mobile station, whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmits a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to the mobile station.
- the mobile station controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the information.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment.
- a wireless communication system 2 according to the second embodiment includes a base station 41 and a mobile station 42 .
- Each of the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 is an example of a communication apparatus.
- the number of base stations included in the wireless communication system 2 is not limited to one, and a plurality of base stations may be included.
- the number of mobile stations included in the wireless communication system 2 is not limited to one, and a plurality of mobile stations may be included.
- the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 execute a communication process related to retransmission control in accordance with the operation sequence illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the communication process related to retransmission control may be executed, with the communication apparatus 11 in FIG. 2 being the base station 41 and the communication apparatus 12 in FIG. 2 being the mobile station 42 .
- the base station 41 determines, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, whether or not to apply retransmission control in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 , like the communication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment.
- the predetermined timing may be, for example, the time of handover or the time of connection request.
- the base station 41 Every time the base station 41 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, the base station 41 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and transmits the control signal to the mobile station 42 .
- the base station 41 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with a determination result of whether or not to apply retransmission control in the wireless communication with the mobile station 42 . That is, when retransmission control is not applied, the base station 41 does not transmit a response signal such as ACK or NACK to the communication apparatus 12 regardless of whether or not data included in an uplink signal received from the mobile station 42 is normally reproduced.
- the base station 41 executes, on a radio signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the radio signal in accordance with application of retransmission control, thereby determining whether or not the data included in the radio signal is normally reproduced. Subsequently, the base station 41 transmits a response signal to the mobile station 42 , the response signal varying in accordance with, for example, whether or not the data included in the uplink signal received from the mobile station 42 has normally been reproduced.
- the mobile station 42 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information. That is, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, the mobile station 42 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, the mobile station 42 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the uplink signal to be transmitted to the base station 41 .
- the mobile station 42 may discard the data included in the uplink signal that has already been transmitted, without storing the data in the storage unit.
- the mobile station 42 applies retransmission control.
- the mobile station 42 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to the uplink signal to be transmitted to the base station 41 .
- the mobile station 42 causes the data included in the uplink signal transmitted to the base station 41 to be kept stored in the storage unit until it is determined that the transmitted data has normally been reproduced in the base station 41 or until a certain period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted.
- the mobile station 42 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from the base station 41 , the mobile station 42 retransmits part or whole of the data in accordance with the signal.
- a signal requesting retransmission for example, a NACK signal
- the base station 41 may determine, for each mobile station, whether or not to apply retransmission control. Also, the base station 41 may transmit, to each mobile station, a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control for the mobile station.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of the base station 41 .
- the base station 41 includes an antenna 51 , a radio processing unit 52 , a wired interface unit 53 , a storage unit 54 , and a control unit 55 .
- the radio processing unit 52 , the storage unit 54 , and the control unit 55 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be implemented, in the base station 41 , as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated.
- the antenna 51 transmits a downlink signal received via the radio processing unit 52 , the downlink signal being a radio signal. Also, the antenna 51 receives a radio signal from the mobile station 42 , converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain an uplink signal, and transmits the uplink signal to the radio processing unit 52 .
- the antenna 51 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other.
- the radio processing unit 52 converts the downlink signal received from the control unit 55 into an analog signal and then superimposes the downlink signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by the control unit 55 . Subsequently, the radio processing unit 52 amplifies the downlink signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the downlink signal to the antenna 51 .
- the radio processing unit 52 amplifies the uplink signal received from the antenna 51 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated).
- the radio processing unit 52 multiplies the amplified uplink signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the uplink signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 52 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the uplink signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the uplink signal to the control unit 55 .
- the wired interface unit 53 includes a communication interface circuit for connecting the base station 41 to a host node apparatus (not illustrated) and another base station.
- the wired interface unit 53 analyzes, in accordance with an S1 interface, a signal received from the host node apparatus, and extracts a downlink signal and a control signal included in the received signal. Furthermore, the wired interface unit 53 analyses, in accordance with an X2 interface, a signal received from another base station, and extracts a control signal included in the received signal. Subsequently, the wired interface unit 53 transmits the extracted downlink signal and control signal to the control unit 55 .
- the wired interface unit 53 converts an uplink signal received from the control unit 55 into a signal of a format conforming to the S1 interface and outputs the converted signal to the host node apparatus. Also, the wired interface unit 53 converts a control signal to be transmitted to another base station into a signal of a format conforming to the X2 interface. Subsequently, the wired interface unit 53 outputs the control signal to the other base station.
- the storage unit 54 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory.
- the storage unit 54 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with the mobile station 42 , various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by the base station 41 or that have been received by the base station 41 , various programs to be executed by the base station 41 , and so forth. Furthermore, the storage unit 54 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the control unit 55 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof.
- the control unit 55 modulates and multiplexes a downlink signal in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which the wireless communication system 2 conforms. Subsequently, the control unit 55 transmits the modulated and multiplexed downlink signal to the radio processing unit 52 .
- the control unit 55 modulates and multiplexes the downlink signal in accordance with Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA).
- OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access
- the control unit 55 demultiplexes the uplink signal received from the radio processing unit 52 in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which the wireless communication system 2 conforms, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing.
- the control unit 55 demultiplexes the uplink signal in accordance with Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) or a multiplexing scheme equivalent to another FDMA scheme, and demodulates the uplink signal.
- SC-FDMA Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access
- the control unit 55 outputs the demodulated uplink signal to the wired interface unit 53 .
- the control unit 55 extracts, from the demodulated uplink signal, various signals that the base station 41 refers to, for example, control information about call control, or a parameter or the like representing a communication state or a communication amount from the mobile station 42 .
- control unit 55 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control. Also, the control unit 55 executes various processes for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- control unit 55 includes, like the control unit 24 of the communication apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 , the retransmission control unit 241 , the notification unit 242 , and the retransmission control execution unit 243 related to retransmission control.
- the retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, for example, based on a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 .
- HARQ is used, for example.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the value of a parameter representing the radio quality of a downlink signal or an uplink signal satisfies a predetermined quality standard.
- the parameter representing the radio quality is an example of a parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 .
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control.
- a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) is used as the parameter representing the radio quality.
- the retransmission control unit 241 compares a CQI included in a measurement report received by the base station 41 from the mobile station 42 with a predetermined threshold.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the CQI is larger than or equal to the predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the CQI is smaller than the predetermined threshold.
- a measured vale of a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmitted from the mobile station 42 may be used as the parameter representing the radio quality.
- the retransmission control unit 241 compares the measured value with the threshold. The retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the measured value is larger than or equal to the predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the measured value is smaller than the predetermined threshold.
- SRS Sounding Reference Signal
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the relative speed of the mobile station 42 to the base station 41 is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the relative movement speed is higher than the predetermined threshold.
- the relative speed of the mobile station 42 to the base station 41 is another example of the parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 .
- the retransmission control unit 241 may use, to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, the movement speed of the mobile station 42 that is estimated by measuring a Doppler frequency and reported from the mobile station 42 , for example.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may calculate the speed of the mobile station 42 , based on a change in position information of the mobile station 42 over time.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the base station 41 is able to set a plurality of communication available ranges and the mobile station 42 moves from one of the communication available ranges to another one of the communication available ranges in a latest predetermined period. On the other hand, when the mobile station 42 stays within any one of the communication available ranges in the latest predetermined period, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control. Whether or not the mobile station 42 has moved between communication available ranges is another example of the parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 . Each communication available range may be, for example, a cell or a beam.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the size of a transport block is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold and may determine to apply retransmission control when the size of the transport block is larger than the predetermined threshold.
- the size of the transport block is an example of the parameter representing a communication amount.
- the retransmission control unit 241 may determine, based on a combination of a communication state and a communication amount, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control. For example, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the condition for applying retransmission control is satisfied regarding any of the foregoing example parameters. Otherwise, the retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control.
- the retransmission control unit 241 transmits information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to the notification unit 242 and the retransmission control execution unit 243 .
- the notification unit 242 Every time the retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control or at a regular interval, the notification unit 242 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control. Subsequently, the notification unit 242 transmits the control signal to the mobile station 42 via the radio processing unit 52 and the antenna 51 .
- the notification unit 242 may use, as the control signal, a signal that is transmitted through a Physical Downlink Control CHannel (PDCCH).
- the notification unit 242 may use, as the control signal, a signal of a MAC control element (MAC CE) or a signal of Radio Resource Control (RRC).
- MAC CE MAC control element
- RRC Radio Resource Control
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 executes retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the operation flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5 , like the communication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment. That is, when retransmission control is applied, the retransmission control execution unit 243 executes, on an uplink signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the uplink signal in accordance with application of retransmission control adopted in the wireless communication system 2 . Accordingly, the retransmission control execution unit 243 determines whether or not the data included in the uplink signal is normally reproduced. For example, the retransmission control execution unit 243 determines, based on a CRC code added to a transport block included in the uplink signal, whether or not the transport block is.
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 When the data included in the uplink signal is, the retransmission control execution unit 243 generates an ACK signal and transmits the ACK signal to the mobile station 42 via the radio processing unit 52 and the antenna 51 . On the other hand, when the data included in the uplink signal is not, the retransmission control execution unit 243 generates a NACK signal and transmits the NACK signal to the mobile station 42 via the radio processing unit 52 and the antenna 51 . In addition, the retransmission control execution unit 243 reproduces the data included in the original uplink signal by using the data retransmitted from the mobile station 42 .
- the retransmission control execution unit 243 does not generate a response signal such as ACK or NACK regardless of whether or not the data included in the radio signal received from the mobile station 42 is.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of the mobile station 42 .
- the mobile station 42 includes an antenna 61 , a radio processing unit 62 , a storage unit 63 , and a control unit 64 .
- the mobile station 42 may include one or more among a user interface such as a touch screen (not illustrated), a microphone (not illustrated), a speaker (not illustrated), and a camera (not illustrated.
- the mobile station 42 may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (not illustrated) for measuring the position of the mobile station 42 .
- GPS Global Positioning System
- the radio processing unit 62 , the storage unit 63 , and the control unit 64 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be, in the mobile station 42 , as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated.
- the antenna 61 transmits an uplink signal received via the radio processing unit 62 , the uplink signal being a radio signal. Also, the antenna 61 receives a radio signal from the base station 41 , converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a downlink signal, and transmits the downlink signal to the radio processing unit 62 .
- the antenna 61 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other.
- the radio processing unit 62 converts the uplink signal received from the control unit 64 into an analog signal and then superimposes the uplink signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by the control unit 64 . Subsequently, the radio processing unit 62 amplifies the uplink signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the uplink signal to the antenna 61 .
- the radio processing unit 62 amplifies the downlink signal received from the antenna 61 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated).
- the radio processing unit 62 multiplies the amplified downlink signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the downlink signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 62 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the downlink signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the downlink signal to the control unit 64 .
- the storage unit 63 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory.
- the storage unit 63 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with the base station 41 , various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by the mobile station 42 or that have been received by the mobile station 42 , various programs to be executed by the mobile station 42 , and so forth. Furthermore, the storage unit 63 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to execute retransmission control. Furthermore, when retransmission control is applied, the storage unit 63 stores therein an uplink signal that has been transmitted for a predetermined period in accordance with retransmission control adopted by the wireless communication system 2 , for example, HARQ.
- the control unit 64 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof.
- the control unit 64 modulates and multiplexes an uplink signal in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which the wireless communication system 2 conforms. Subsequently, the control unit 64 transmits the modulated and multiplexed uplink signal to the radio processing unit 62 .
- the control unit 64 modulates and multiplexes the uplink signal in accordance with SC-FDMA or a multiplexing scheme equivalent to another FDMA scheme.
- the control unit 64 demultiplexes the downlink signal received from the radio processing unit 62 in accordance with the modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which the wireless communication system 2 conforms, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. For example, the control unit 64 demultiplexes and demodulates the downlink signal in accordance with OFDMA. Subsequently, the control unit 64 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signal. Subsequently, the control unit 64 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data. For example, when the downlink signal includes an audio signal, the control unit 64 reproduces the audio signal through a speaker. When the downlink signal includes a video signal, the control unit 64 reproduces the video signal through a touch screen.
- control unit 64 executes various processes for executing wireless communication with the base station 41 , such as a connection request process.
- control unit 64 executes various processes for executing retransmission control.
- the control unit 64 generates, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, an uplink signal including information that is used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, for example, CQI, the speed of the mobile station 42 , or the current position of the mobile station 42 .
- the predetermined timing may be, for example, the time of handover or the time of connection request.
- the control unit 64 transmits the uplink signal to the base station 41 via the radio processing unit 62 and the antenna 61 .
- control unit 64 Every time the control unit 64 receives a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from the base station 41 , the control unit 64 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information.
- the control unit 64 may control application of retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the operation flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 , like the communication apparatus 12 in the second embodiment.
- the control unit 64 when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied, the control unit 64 applies retransmission control.
- the control unit 64 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to an uplink signal.
- the control unit 64 may use a CRC code as an error detection code, for example.
- the control unit 64 causes the uplink signal that has been transmitted to be kept stored in the storage unit 63 until receiving, from the base station 41 , a signal (for example, an ACK signal) indicating that the transmitted data has or until a predetermined period elapses, so that the uplink signal may be retransmitted.
- the control unit 64 When receiving a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from the base station 41 , the control unit 64 generates an uplink signal to be retransmitted including part or whole of the data included in the uplink signal. The control unit 64 transmits the generated uplink signal to the base station 41 via the radio processing unit 62 and the antenna 61 .
- a signal requesting retransmission for example, a NACK signal
- the control unit 64 when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, the control unit 64 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, the control unit 64 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the uplink signal. In addition, in this case, the control unit 64 may discard the data included in the uplink signal transmitted to the base station 41 without storing the data in the storage unit 63 .
- FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is applied
- FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is not applied.
- a CRC code 1102 with a predetermined length (for example, a length of 24 bits) is added to each code block 1101 included in an uplink signal.
- a predetermined length for example, a length of 24 bits
- MAC Media Access Control
- RLC PDU RLC Protocol Data Unit
- each code block 1111 is, by using a CRC code 1112 with a predetermined length (for example, a length of 24 bits) added to each code block 1111 in the physical layer.
- a transport block 1113 is obtained from one or more code blocks 1111 .
- a CRC code for retransmission control is not added to the transport block 1113 .
- an RLC PDU 1115 is obtained from the transport block 1113 .
- the RLC PDU 1115 is divided into a plurality of RLC SDUs 1116 .
- Each RLC SDU 1116 is transmitted, for example, from the base station 41 to the host node apparatus in the form of an IP packet.
- whether or not to add an error detection code 1121 for retransmission control may be switched. That is, when retransmission control is applied, the error detection code 1121 may be added to the data 1120 . On the other hand, when retransmission control is not applied, the error detection code 1121 may be omitted.
- the error detection code 1121 may be a CRC code or may be another error detection code.
- the base station determines whether or not to apply retransmission control and notifies the mobile station whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the mobile station controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the notification.
- this wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to apply retransmission control, and is thus able to suppress a decrease in communication efficiency caused by retransmission control when retransmission control is not to be applied. As a result, this wireless communication system is able to increase communication efficiency.
- the mobile station may determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, generate an uplink control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmit the control signal to the base station.
- the base station may control application of retransmission control in accordance with the information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, included in the control signal.
- control unit 64 of the mobile station 42 illustrated in FIG. 10 may execute the process of each of the retransmission control unit 241 , the notification unit 242 , and the retransmission control execution unit 243 illustrated in FIG. 4 .
- the control unit 64 may determine whether or not to apply retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the type of data transmitted from the base station 41 to the mobile station 42 .
- the control unit 64 may specify, based on an application program or the like that the control unit 64 is executing, the type of data transmitted from the base station 41 to the mobile station 42 .
- the control unit 64 may determine not to apply retransmission control. Also when the data transmitted from the base station 41 to the mobile station 42 is data that is transmitted at a regular interval, such as data of Internet of Things (IoT), the control unit 64 may determine not to apply retransmission control. On the other hand, when the data transmitted from the base station 41 to the mobile station 42 is data that is requested to be in the mobile station 42 , for example, a certain computer program, the control unit 64 may determine to apply retransmission control.
- IoT Internet of Things
- control unit 64 may generate an uplink control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and may transmit the control signal to the base station 41 via the radio processing unit 62 and the antenna 61 .
- control unit 55 of the base station 41 may control, based on the uplink control signal received from the mobile station 42 , application of retransmission control, like the control unit 64 of the mobile station 42 .
- the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 may add an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a downlink signal or an uplink signal.
- the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 may cause an error detection code added to data when retransmission control is applied and an error detection code added to data when retransmission control is not applied to be different from each other.
- the error correction capability of the error detection code (error correction code) added to data when retransmission control is not applied may be higher than the error correction capability of the error detection code (error correction code) added to data when retransmission control is applied.
- one of the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 may transmit, to the other of the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 , a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control.
- This control signal may be, for example, a signal transmitted via PDCCH, a signal of MAC CE, or a signal of RRC, as in the above-described embodiments.
- the criterion for determining whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control may be the same as the criterion for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 that has received the control signal may control application of the error detection code related to retransmission control in accordance with the control signal. For example, when the control signal includes information indicating that an error detection code related to retransmission control is not to be added, the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 that has received the control signal does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a transmission signal. In this case, the mobile station 42 or the base station 41 that has received the transmission signal may execute retransmission control by using an error detection code unrelated to retransmission control, for example, the CRC code added to the code block illustrated in FIG. 11A .
- an error detection code unrelated to retransmission control for example, the CRC code added to the code block illustrated in FIG. 11A .
- the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 that has received the control signal adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a transmission signal. Accordingly, the wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data to be transmitted.
- a communication amount may be reduced by the amount of bits corresponding to the error detection code. As a result, this wireless communication system is able to increase communication efficiency.
- the control signal may include information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control, together with information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- one of the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 may transmit, to the other of the base station 41 and the mobile station 42 , either of a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control and a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control.
- the communication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment may be the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 in the second embodiment or the modification examples.
- the communication apparatus 12 in the first embodiment may be the base station 41 or the mobile station 42 in the second embodiment or the modification examples.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/166,757, which was filed on Oct. 22, 2018, now pending, which is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2016/064368 filed on May 13, 2016 and designated the U.S., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to, for example, a communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method that are for performing wireless communication.
- In wireless communication systems such as mobile communication systems, the amount of data transmitted and received in the wireless communication systems has been increasing due to an increase in the number of communication terminals connected to each other, higher quality of transmitted data, diversification of provided services, or the like. Accordingly, to increase the communication capacity of the wireless communication systems, various techniques have been developed and standardized as standards for the wireless communication systems.
- Examples of the related art include [NPL 1: 3GPP TS36.300 v13.3.0, March 2016], [NPL 2: 3GPP TS36.211 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 3: 3GPP TS36.212 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 4: 3GPP TS36.213 v13.1.1, March 2016], [NPL 5: 3GPP TS36.321 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 6: 3GPP TS36.322 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 7: 3GPP TS36.323 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 8: 3GPP TS36.331 v13.1.0, March 2016], [NPL 9: 3GPP TS36.413 v13.2.0, March 2016], [NPL 10: 3GPP TS36.423 v13.3.0, March 2016], [NPL 11: 3GPP TS36.881 v0.6.0, February 2016].
- According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a radio processing unit configured to transmit or receive a radio signal; and a control unit configured to control application of retransmission control in accordance with information indicating whether or not to apply the retransmission control, the information being included in a radio signal received from another communication apparatus via the radio processing unit.
- According to another embodiment, a wireless communication system including a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus is provided. In the wireless communication system, the first communication apparatus is configured to transmit a radio signal to the second communication apparatus, the radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, and the second communication apparatus is configured to control application of the retransmission control in accordance with the information.
- According to still another embodiment, a wireless communication method in a wireless communication system including a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication method includes transmitting, with the first communication apparatus, a radio signal to the second communication apparatus, the radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control; and controlling, with the second communication apparatus, application of the retransmission control in accordance with the information.
- According to still another embodiment, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a radio processing unit configured to transmit or receive a radio signal; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, based on at least any of a communication state of wireless communication with another communication apparatus, a communication amount of the wireless communication, and a type of data transmitted between the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus, to generate, based on a result of the determination, a radio signal including information indicating whether or not to apply the retransmission control, and to transmit the radio signal to the other communication apparatus via the radio processing unit.
- The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment. -
FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of a communication process related to retransmission control. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of one communication apparatus included in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a control unit of the one communication apparatus related to retransmission control. -
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the one communication apparatus related to retransmission control. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of another communication apparatus included in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the other communication apparatus related to retransmission control. -
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a base station. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a mobile station. -
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is applied, -
FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is not applied, and -
FIG. 11C is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal. - However, there is a possibility that the amount of data transmitted in wireless communication systems will increase more and more. Accordingly, increasing of communication efficiency of the wireless communications systems is demanded.
- In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus that is capable of increasing communication efficiency of a wireless communication network.
- Hereinafter, a description will be given of a communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, and a communication method with reference to the drawings.
- In so-called Long Term Evolution (LTE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), or the like, which is one of standards for mobile communications, Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) has been adopted. HARQ is one of techniques related to retransmission control in which a transmission-side communication apparatus retransmits data when a reception-side communication apparatus fails to correctly receive the data, and is a combination of Forward Error Correction (FEC) code and Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ). In HARQ, a reception-side communication apparatus, such as a base station, transmits an ACK (Acknowledge) signal or a NACK (Negative Acknowledge) signal to a transmission-side communication apparatus, such as a mobile station, to notify the transmission-side communication apparatus whether or not data received from the transmission-side communication apparatus has. The transmission-side communication apparatus that has received the NACK signal divides the data into portions and retransmits the data portion by portion. Accordingly, the reception-side communication apparatus that has once failed to the data becomes able to normally reproduce the data.
- However, depending on the type of data, there is traffic in which tolerance for delay is low although a certain transmission error is allowed (Low Latency Communication Traffic (LLC Traffic)). Regarding LLC Traffic, suppression of delay may take priority over suppression of transmission error. In this case, retransmission control is not necessarily performed.
- In addition, Contention-Based Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (CB-PUSCH) has been under consideration regarding the uplink. Also, transmitting of LLC Traffic data using CB-PUSCH has been under consideration. When HARQ is applied in such a case, an ACK signal or a NACK signal is transmitted although retransmission control is not to be performed, and thus communication efficiency in wireless communication is decreased.
- According to the present embodiment, one of communication apparatuses determines, based on at least any of a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of data that is transmitted, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control, and notifies the other communication apparatus whether or not to apply retransmission control. In accordance with the notification, the other communication apparatus controls application of retransmission control. The other communication apparatus adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to a signal that is to be transmitted when applying retransmission control, and does not add the error detection code to the signal that is to be transmitted when not applying retransmission control. Accordingly, the communication apparatuses and a wireless communication system including the communication apparatuses increase communication efficiency.
- In this specification, each of a base station and a mobile station is an example of a communication apparatus. Node B, eNode B, new eNode B, an access point, or the like is an example of a base station. Furthermore, a mobile terminal or user equipment (UE) is an example of a mobile station. In this specification, HARQ, ARQ, or the like is an example of retransmission control. An error detection code related to retransmission control is an error detection code that is used by a reception-side communication apparatus to determine whether or not to issue a retransmission request in accordance with whether or not received data is normally reproduced. It is assumed that the error detection code includes an error correction code.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment. Awireless communication system 1 includes acommunication apparatus 11 and acommunication apparatus 12. Thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12 transmit a signal to each other through wireless communication. Either or both of thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12 may be a mobile terminal or may be a fixed communication apparatus. - The
communication apparatus 11 determines, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, whether or not to apply retransmission control, in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of wireless communication between thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12, or the type of data transmitted between thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12. - Every time the
communication apparatus 11 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, thecommunication apparatus 11 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and transmits the control signal to thecommunication apparatus 12. In addition, thecommunication apparatus 11 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with a determination result of whether or not to apply retransmission control in the wireless communication with thecommunication apparatus 12. That is, when retransmission control is not applied, thecommunication apparatus 11 does not transmit a response signal such as ACK or NACK to thecommunication apparatus 12 regardless of whether or not data included in a radio signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 is normally reproduced. - On the other hand, when retransmission control is applied, the
communication apparatus 11 executes, on a radio signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the radio signal in accordance with application of retransmission control, thereby determining whether or not the data included in the radio signal is. Subsequently, thecommunication apparatus 11 transmits a response signal to thecommunication apparatus 12, the response signal varying in accordance with, for example, whether or not the data included in the radio signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 has. For example, when the data included in the radio signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 is, thecommunication apparatus 11 transmits an ACK signal to thecommunication apparatus 12. On the other hand, when the data included in the radio signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 is not, thecommunication apparatus 11 transmits a NACK signal to thecommunication apparatus 12. As the error detection code, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code is used, for example. - On the other hand, every time the
communication apparatus 12 receives a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from thecommunication apparatus 11, thecommunication apparatus 12 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information. That is, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, thecommunication apparatus 12 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, thecommunication apparatus 12 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the radio signal to be transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11. In addition, in this case, thecommunication apparatus 12 is not requested to store, for the purpose of retransmission, data included in the radio signal transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11 in a storage unit of thecommunication apparatus 12, and thus thecommunication apparatus 12 may discard the data included in the radio signal after transmitting the radio signal. - On the other hand, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied, the
communication apparatus 12 applies retransmission control. In this case, thecommunication apparatus 12 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to the radio signal to be transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11. In addition, thecommunication apparatus 12 causes the data included in the radio signal transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11 to be kept stored in the storage unit of thecommunication apparatus 12 until it is determined that the transmitted data has in thecommunication apparatus 11 or until a certain period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted. When thecommunication apparatus 12 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from thecommunication apparatus 11, thecommunication apparatus 12 retransmits a radio signal including part or whole of the data in accordance with the signal. -
FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of a communication process related to retransmission control according to the present embodiment. - The
communication apparatus 11 determines, based on any of a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of transmitted data regarding the wireless communication with thecommunication apparatus 12, whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S101). Subsequently, thecommunication apparatus 11 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmits the control signal to the communication apparatus 12 (step S102). - On the other hand, in response to receipt of the control signal, the
communication apparatus 12 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the information included in the control signal and indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S103). Subsequently, thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12 execute wireless communication in accordance with a control result of application of retransmission control (step S104). -
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of thecommunication apparatus 11. Thecommunication apparatus 11 includes anantenna 21, a radio processing unit 22, astorage unit 23, and acontrol unit 24. The radio processing unit 22, thestorage unit 23, and thecontrol unit 24 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be mounted, in thecommunication apparatus 11, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated. - The
antenna 21 transmits a transmission signal received via the radio processing unit 22, the transmission signal being a radio signal. Also, theantenna 21 receives a radio signal from thecommunication apparatus 12, converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a reception signal, and transmits the reception signal to the radio processing unit 22. Theantenna 21 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other. - The radio processing unit 22 converts the transmission signal received from the
control unit 24 into an analog signal and then superimposes the transmission signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by thecontrol unit 24. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 22 amplifies the transmission signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the transmission signal to theantenna 21. - In addition, the radio processing unit 22 amplifies the reception signal received from the
antenna 21 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated). The radio processing unit 22 multiplies the amplified reception signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the reception signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, the radio processing unit 22 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the reception signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the reception signal to thecontrol unit 24. - The
storage unit 23 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory. Thestorage unit 23 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with thecommunication apparatus 12, various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by thecommunication apparatus 11 or that have been received by thecommunication apparatus 11, various programs to be executed by thecommunication apparatus 11, and so forth. Furthermore, thestorage unit 23 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control. - The
control unit 24 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof. Thecontrol unit 24 modulates a transmission signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation scheme and also multiplexes the transmission signal. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 24 transmits the modulated and multiplexed transmission signal to the radio processing unit 22. - On the other hand, the
control unit 24 demultiplexes the reception signal received from the radio processing unit 22 in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing scheme, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 24 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signals. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 24 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data. - Furthermore, the
control unit 24 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control. - Also, the
control unit 24 executes various processes for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control. -
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of thecontrol unit 24 related to retransmission control. Thecontrol unit 24 includes aretransmission control unit 241, anotification unit 242, and a retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243. These individual units included in thecontrol unit 24 are implemented by a computer program that runs on a processor included in thecontrol unit 24. Alternatively, these individual units included in thecontrol unit 24 may be implemented, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which circuits for executing the functions of the individual units are integrated, in thecommunication apparatus 11 separately from the processor included in thecontrol unit 24. - The
retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12, or the type of data transmitted between thecommunication apparatus 11 and thecommunication apparatus 12. - For example, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the value of a parameter representing radio quality of a radio signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 satisfies a predetermined quality standard. On the other hand, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the value of the parameter representing the radio quality does not satisfy the predetermined quality standard. - Alternatively, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the amount of data transmitted at one time is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the amount of data transmitted at one time is larger than the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the relative speed of thecommunication apparatus 12 to thecommunication apparatus 11 is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the relative speed is higher than the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when thecommunication apparatus 11 is able to set a plurality of communication available ranges and thecommunication apparatus 12 moves from one of the communication available ranges to another one of the communication available ranges in a latest predetermined period. On the other hand, when thecommunication apparatus 12 stays within any one of the communication available ranges in the latest predetermined period, thecommunication apparatus 11 may determine not to apply retransmission control. - Furthermore, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the data transmitted from thecommunication apparatus 12 to thecommunication apparatus 11 is data of LLC Traffic, such as streaming data or voice call data. Also, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the data transmitted from thecommunication apparatus 12 to thecommunication apparatus 11 is data that is transmitted at a regular interval, such as data of Internet of Things (IoT). On the other hand, when the data transmitted from thecommunication apparatus 12 to thecommunication apparatus 11 is data that is requested to be normally reproduced in thecommunication apparatus 11 or an apparatus to which the data is transferred via thecommunication apparatus 11, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control. - Furthermore, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine, based on a combination of two or more among a communication state, a communication amount, and the type of data, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control. For example, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when a condition for applying retransmission control is satisfied regarding any of the foregoing several example parameters, and otherwise, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control. - The
retransmission control unit 241 transmits information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to thenotification unit 242 and the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243. - Every time the
retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, thenotification unit 242 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control. This control signal is an example of a transmission signal transmitted from thecommunication apparatus 11 to thecommunication apparatus 12. Subsequently, thenotification unit 242 transmits the control signal to thecommunication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and theantenna 21. - The retransmission
control execution unit 243 executes retransmission control. -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of thecommunication apparatus 11 related to retransmission control, executed by the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243. - The retransmission
control execution unit 243 determines, based on the information received from theretransmission control unit 241 and indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, whether or not to apply retransmission control (step S201). When retransmission control is applied (YES in step S201), the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 executes, in accordance with the application of retransmission control, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to data included in a reception signal from thecommunication apparatus 12 on the data. Subsequently, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 determines whether or not the data is normally reproduced (step S202). Subsequently, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 generates, for example, a response signal that varies in accordance with whether or not the data included in the reception signal has normally been reproduced. For example, when the data included in the reception signal is normally reproduced (YES in step S202), the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 generates an ACK signal and transmits the ACK signal to thecommunication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and the antenna 21 (step S203). - On the other hand, when the data included in the reception signal is not normally reproduced (NO in step S202), the retransmission
control execution unit 243 generates a NACK signal and transmits the NACK signal to thecommunication apparatus 12 via the radio processing unit 22 and the antenna 21 (step S204). The NACK signal is an example of a retransmission request signal for requesting retransmission of data to thecommunication apparatus 12. Subsequently, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 the data included in the original reception signal by using data retransmitted in accordance with retransmission control adopted by the wireless communication system 1 (step S205). The retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 may repeat the process from step S202 as appropriate. - On the other hand, when retransmission control is not applied in step S201 (NO in step S201), the retransmission
control execution unit 243 does not execute retransmission control. Thus, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 does not generate a response signal such as ACK or NACK regardless of whether or not the data included in the reception signal received from thecommunication apparatus 12 is normally reproduced. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of thecommunication apparatus 12. Thecommunication apparatus 12 includes anantenna 31, aradio processing unit 32, astorage unit 33, and acontrol unit 34. Theradio processing unit 32, thestorage unit 33, and thecontrol unit 34 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be may be mounted, in thecommunication apparatus 12, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated. - The
antenna 31 transmits a transmission signal received via theradio processing unit 32, the transmission signal being a radio signal. Also, theantenna 31 receives a radio signal from thecommunication apparatus 11, converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a reception signal, and transmits the reception signal to theradio processing unit 32. Theantenna 31 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other. - The
radio processing unit 32 converts the transmission signal received from thecontrol unit 34 into an analog signal and then superimposes the transmission signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by thecontrol unit 34. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 32 amplifies the transmission signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the transmission signal to theantenna 31. - In addition, the
radio processing unit 32 amplifies the reception signal received from theantenna 31 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated). Theradio processing unit 32 multiplies the amplified reception signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the reception signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 32 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the reception signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the reception signal to thecontrol unit 34. - The
storage unit 33 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory. Thestorage unit 33 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with thecommunication apparatus 11, various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by thecommunication apparatus 12 or that have been received by thecommunication apparatus 12, various programs to be executed by thecommunication apparatus 12, and so forth. Furthermore, thestorage unit 33 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to execute retransmission control. Furthermore, when retransmission control is applied, thestorage unit 33 stores, for a predetermined period, a transmission signal that has been transmitted. - The
control unit 34 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof. Thecontrol unit 34 modulates a transmission signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation scheme and also multiplexes the transmission signal. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 34 transmits the modulated and multiplexed transmission signal to theradio processing unit 32. - On the other hand, the
control unit 34 demultiplexes the reception signal received from theradio processing unit 32 in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing scheme, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 34 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signals. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 34 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data. - Furthermore, the
control unit 34 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control. - In addition, every time the
control unit 34 receives a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from thecommunication apparatus 11, thecontrol unit 34 refers to the information and controls application of retransmission control. -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an operation of thecommunication apparatus 12 related to retransmission control, executed by thecontrol unit 34. - The
control unit 34 determines whether or not a received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied (step S301). - When the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied (YES in step S301), the
control unit 34 applies retransmission control. In this case, thecontrol unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11 by adding an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in the transmission signal (step S302). Subsequently, thecontrol unit 34 transmits the transmission signal to thecommunication apparatus 11 via theradio processing unit 32 and theantenna 31. - In addition, the
control unit 34 causes the data included in the transmission signal transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11 to be kept stored in thestorage unit 33 until it is determined that the transmitted data has normally been reproduced in thecommunication apparatus 11 or until a predetermined period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted (step S303). When thecontrol unit 34 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from thecommunication apparatus 11, thecontrol unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be retransmitted, including part or whole of the data included in the transmission signal. Thecontrol unit 34 transmits the generated transmission signal to thecommunication apparatus 11 via theradio processing unit 32 and the antenna 31 (step S304). - On the other hand, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied in step S301 (NO in step S301), the
control unit 34 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, thecontrol unit 34 generates a transmission signal to be transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11 without adding an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the transmission signal (step S305). Subsequently, thecontrol unit 34 transmits the transmission signal to thecommunication apparatus 11 via theradio processing unit 32 and theantenna 31. In this case, thecontrol unit 34 may discard the data included in the transmission signal transmitted to thecommunication apparatus 11, without storing the data in thestorage unit 33. - As described above, in this wireless communication system, one of communication apparatuses determines whether or not to apply retransmission control and notifies the other communication apparatus whether or not to apply retransmission control. The other communication apparatus controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the notification. Accordingly, this wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to apply retransmission control, and is thus able to suppress a decrease in communication efficiency caused by retransmission control when retransmission control is not to be applied. As a result, this wireless communication system and each communication apparatus included in this wireless communication system are able to increase communication efficiency.
- Next, a description will be given of a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment. This wireless communication system includes a base station and a mobile station. The base station determines, based on a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication with the mobile station, whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmits a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to the mobile station. The mobile station controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the information.
-
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment. Awireless communication system 2 according to the second embodiment includes abase station 41 and amobile station 42. Each of thebase station 41 and themobile station 42 is an example of a communication apparatus. The number of base stations included in thewireless communication system 2 is not limited to one, and a plurality of base stations may be included. Also, the number of mobile stations included in thewireless communication system 2 is not limited to one, and a plurality of mobile stations may be included. - The
base station 41 and themobile station 42 execute a communication process related to retransmission control in accordance with the operation sequence illustrated inFIG. 2 . In the present embodiment, the communication process related to retransmission control may be executed, with thecommunication apparatus 11 inFIG. 2 being thebase station 41 and thecommunication apparatus 12 inFIG. 2 being themobile station 42. - That is, the
base station 41 determines, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, whether or not to apply retransmission control in accordance with a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between thebase station 41 and themobile station 42, like thecommunication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment. The predetermined timing may be, for example, the time of handover or the time of connection request. - Every time the
base station 41 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, thebase station 41 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and transmits the control signal to themobile station 42. In addition, thebase station 41 controls application of retransmission control in accordance with a determination result of whether or not to apply retransmission control in the wireless communication with themobile station 42. That is, when retransmission control is not applied, thebase station 41 does not transmit a response signal such as ACK or NACK to thecommunication apparatus 12 regardless of whether or not data included in an uplink signal received from themobile station 42 is normally reproduced. - On the other hand, when retransmission control is applied, the
base station 41 executes, on a radio signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the radio signal in accordance with application of retransmission control, thereby determining whether or not the data included in the radio signal is normally reproduced. Subsequently, thebase station 41 transmits a response signal to themobile station 42, the response signal varying in accordance with, for example, whether or not the data included in the uplink signal received from themobile station 42 has normally been reproduced. - On the other hand, like the
communication apparatus 12 in the first embodiment, every time themobile station 42 receives a downlink control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from thebase station 41, themobile station 42 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information. That is, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, themobile station 42 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, themobile station 42 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the uplink signal to be transmitted to thebase station 41. In addition, in this case, the data included in the uplink signal that has already been transmitted to thebase station 41 is not retransmitted, and thus themobile station 42 may discard the data included in the uplink signal that has already been transmitted, without storing the data in the storage unit. - On the other hand, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied, the
mobile station 42 applies retransmission control. In this case, themobile station 42 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to the uplink signal to be transmitted to thebase station 41. In addition, themobile station 42 causes the data included in the uplink signal transmitted to thebase station 41 to be kept stored in the storage unit until it is determined that the transmitted data has normally been reproduced in thebase station 41 or until a certain period elapses, so that the data may be retransmitted. When themobile station 42 receives a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from thebase station 41, themobile station 42 retransmits part or whole of the data in accordance with the signal. - When there are a plurality of mobile stations connected to the
base station 41, thebase station 41 may determine, for each mobile station, whether or not to apply retransmission control. Also, thebase station 41 may transmit, to each mobile station, a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control for the mobile station. -
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of thebase station 41. Thebase station 41 includes anantenna 51, aradio processing unit 52, awired interface unit 53, astorage unit 54, and acontrol unit 55. Theradio processing unit 52, thestorage unit 54, and thecontrol unit 55 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be implemented, in thebase station 41, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated. - The
antenna 51 transmits a downlink signal received via theradio processing unit 52, the downlink signal being a radio signal. Also, theantenna 51 receives a radio signal from themobile station 42, converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain an uplink signal, and transmits the uplink signal to theradio processing unit 52. Theantenna 51 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other. - The
radio processing unit 52 converts the downlink signal received from thecontrol unit 55 into an analog signal and then superimposes the downlink signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by thecontrol unit 55. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 52 amplifies the downlink signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the downlink signal to theantenna 51. - In addition, the
radio processing unit 52 amplifies the uplink signal received from theantenna 51 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated). Theradio processing unit 52 multiplies the amplified uplink signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the uplink signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 52 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the uplink signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the uplink signal to thecontrol unit 55. - The
wired interface unit 53 includes a communication interface circuit for connecting thebase station 41 to a host node apparatus (not illustrated) and another base station. Thewired interface unit 53 analyzes, in accordance with an S1 interface, a signal received from the host node apparatus, and extracts a downlink signal and a control signal included in the received signal. Furthermore, thewired interface unit 53 analyses, in accordance with an X2 interface, a signal received from another base station, and extracts a control signal included in the received signal. Subsequently, thewired interface unit 53 transmits the extracted downlink signal and control signal to thecontrol unit 55. - On the other hand, the
wired interface unit 53 converts an uplink signal received from thecontrol unit 55 into a signal of a format conforming to the S1 interface and outputs the converted signal to the host node apparatus. Also, thewired interface unit 53 converts a control signal to be transmitted to another base station into a signal of a format conforming to the X2 interface. Subsequently, thewired interface unit 53 outputs the control signal to the other base station. - The
storage unit 54 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory. Thestorage unit 54 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with themobile station 42, various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by thebase station 41 or that have been received by thebase station 41, various programs to be executed by thebase station 41, and so forth. Furthermore, thestorage unit 54 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control. - The
control unit 55 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof. Thecontrol unit 55 modulates and multiplexes a downlink signal in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which thewireless communication system 2 conforms. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 55 transmits the modulated and multiplexed downlink signal to theradio processing unit 52. For example, thecontrol unit 55 modulates and multiplexes the downlink signal in accordance with Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). - On the other hand, the
control unit 55 demultiplexes the uplink signal received from theradio processing unit 52 in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which thewireless communication system 2 conforms, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. For example, thecontrol unit 55 demultiplexes the uplink signal in accordance with Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) or a multiplexing scheme equivalent to another FDMA scheme, and demodulates the uplink signal. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 55 outputs the demodulated uplink signal to thewired interface unit 53. Furthermore, thecontrol unit 55 extracts, from the demodulated uplink signal, various signals that thebase station 41 refers to, for example, control information about call control, or a parameter or the like representing a communication state or a communication amount from themobile station 42. - Furthermore, the
control unit 55 executes various processes for executing wireless communication, such as transmission power control and call control. Also, thecontrol unit 55 executes various processes for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control. For this purpose, thecontrol unit 55 includes, like thecontrol unit 24 of thecommunication apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4 , theretransmission control unit 241, thenotification unit 242, and the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 related to retransmission control. - The
retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control, for example, based on a communication state or a communication amount of the wireless communication between thebase station 41 and themobile station 42. As the retransmission control, HARQ is used, for example. - For example, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the value of a parameter representing the radio quality of a downlink signal or an uplink signal satisfies a predetermined quality standard. The parameter representing the radio quality is an example of a parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between thebase station 41 and themobile station 42. On the other hand, when the value of the parameter representing the radio quality does not satisfy the predetermined quality standard, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control. For example, as the parameter representing the radio quality, a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) is used. In this case, theretransmission control unit 241 compares a CQI included in a measurement report received by thebase station 41 from themobile station 42 with a predetermined threshold. Theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the CQI is larger than or equal to the predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the CQI is smaller than the predetermined threshold. - Alternatively, a measured vale of a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmitted from the
mobile station 42 may be used as the parameter representing the radio quality. Also in this case, theretransmission control unit 241 compares the measured value with the threshold. Theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the measured value is larger than or equal to the predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the measured value is smaller than the predetermined threshold. - Alternatively, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the relative speed of themobile station 42 to thebase station 41 is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and may determine to apply retransmission control when the relative movement speed is higher than the predetermined threshold. The relative speed of themobile station 42 to thebase station 41 is another example of the parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between thebase station 41 and themobile station 42. In this case, theretransmission control unit 241 may use, to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, the movement speed of themobile station 42 that is estimated by measuring a Doppler frequency and reported from themobile station 42, for example. Alternatively, theretransmission control unit 241 may calculate the speed of themobile station 42, based on a change in position information of themobile station 42 over time. - Alternatively, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when thebase station 41 is able to set a plurality of communication available ranges and themobile station 42 moves from one of the communication available ranges to another one of the communication available ranges in a latest predetermined period. On the other hand, when themobile station 42 stays within any one of the communication available ranges in the latest predetermined period, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control. Whether or not themobile station 42 has moved between communication available ranges is another example of the parameter representing the communication state of the wireless communication between thebase station 41 and themobile station 42. Each communication available range may be, for example, a cell or a beam. - Alternatively, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control when the size of a transport block is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold and may determine to apply retransmission control when the size of the transport block is larger than the predetermined threshold. The size of the transport block is an example of the parameter representing a communication amount. - Furthermore, the
retransmission control unit 241 may determine, based on a combination of a communication state and a communication amount, for example, whether or not to apply retransmission control. For example, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine to apply retransmission control when the condition for applying retransmission control is satisfied regarding any of the foregoing example parameters. Otherwise, theretransmission control unit 241 may determine not to apply retransmission control. - The
retransmission control unit 241 transmits information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control to thenotification unit 242 and the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243. - Every time the
retransmission control unit 241 determines whether or not to apply retransmission control or at a regular interval, thenotification unit 242 generates a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control. Subsequently, thenotification unit 242 transmits the control signal to themobile station 42 via theradio processing unit 52 and theantenna 51. Thenotification unit 242 may use, as the control signal, a signal that is transmitted through a Physical Downlink Control CHannel (PDCCH). Alternatively, thenotification unit 242 may use, as the control signal, a signal of a MAC control element (MAC CE) or a signal of Radio Resource Control (RRC). - The retransmission
control execution unit 243 executes retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the operation flowchart illustrated inFIG. 5 , like thecommunication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment. That is, when retransmission control is applied, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 executes, on an uplink signal, an error detection process corresponding to an error detection code added to the uplink signal in accordance with application of retransmission control adopted in thewireless communication system 2. Accordingly, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 determines whether or not the data included in the uplink signal is normally reproduced. For example, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 determines, based on a CRC code added to a transport block included in the uplink signal, whether or not the transport block is. When the data included in the uplink signal is, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 generates an ACK signal and transmits the ACK signal to themobile station 42 via theradio processing unit 52 and theantenna 51. On the other hand, when the data included in the uplink signal is not, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 generates a NACK signal and transmits the NACK signal to themobile station 42 via theradio processing unit 52 and theantenna 51. In addition, the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 reproduces the data included in the original uplink signal by using the data retransmitted from themobile station 42. - On the other hand, when retransmission control is not applied, the retransmission
control execution unit 243 does not generate a response signal such as ACK or NACK regardless of whether or not the data included in the radio signal received from themobile station 42 is. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of themobile station 42. Themobile station 42 includes anantenna 61, aradio processing unit 62, astorage unit 63, and acontrol unit 64. Furthermore, themobile station 42 may include one or more among a user interface such as a touch screen (not illustrated), a microphone (not illustrated), a speaker (not illustrated), and a camera (not illustrated. Furthermore, themobile station 42 may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (not illustrated) for measuring the position of themobile station 42. Theradio processing unit 62, thestorage unit 63, and thecontrol unit 64 are formed as separate circuits. Alternatively, these individual units may be, in themobile station 42, as one or a plurality of integrated circuits in which the circuits corresponding to the individual units are integrated. - The
antenna 61 transmits an uplink signal received via theradio processing unit 62, the uplink signal being a radio signal. Also, theantenna 61 receives a radio signal from thebase station 41, converts the radio signal into an electric signal to obtain a downlink signal, and transmits the downlink signal to theradio processing unit 62. Theantenna 61 may include a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna that are separated from each other. - The
radio processing unit 62 converts the uplink signal received from thecontrol unit 64 into an analog signal and then superimposes the uplink signal on a carrier wave having a radio frequency designated by thecontrol unit 64. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 62 amplifies the uplink signal superimposed on the carrier wave to a desired level by using a high-power amplifier (not illustrated) and transmits the uplink signal to theantenna 61. - In addition, the
radio processing unit 62 amplifies the downlink signal received from theantenna 61 by using a low-noise amplifier (not illustrated). Theradio processing unit 62 multiplies the amplified downlink signal by a periodic signal having an intermediate frequency, thereby converting the frequency of the downlink signal from a radio frequency to a baseband frequency. Subsequently, theradio processing unit 62 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the downlink signal having the baseband frequency, and then transmits the downlink signal to thecontrol unit 64. - The
storage unit 63 includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or volatile semiconductor memory. Thestorage unit 63 stores therein various pieces of information for communicating with thebase station 41, various pieces of information that are to be transmitted by themobile station 42 or that have been received by themobile station 42, various programs to be executed by themobile station 42, and so forth. Furthermore, thestorage unit 63 stores therein various pieces of information that are used to execute retransmission control. Furthermore, when retransmission control is applied, thestorage unit 63 stores therein an uplink signal that has been transmitted for a predetermined period in accordance with retransmission control adopted by thewireless communication system 2, for example, HARQ. - The
control unit 64 includes, for example, one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof. Thecontrol unit 64 modulates and multiplexes an uplink signal in accordance with a modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which thewireless communication system 2 conforms. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 64 transmits the modulated and multiplexed uplink signal to theradio processing unit 62. For example, thecontrol unit 64 modulates and multiplexes the uplink signal in accordance with SC-FDMA or a multiplexing scheme equivalent to another FDMA scheme. - On the other hand, the
control unit 64 demultiplexes the downlink signal received from theradio processing unit 62 in accordance with the modulation and multiplexing scheme that is adopted in the communication standard to which thewireless communication system 2 conforms, and demodulates reception signals generated through the demultiplexing. For example, thecontrol unit 64 demultiplexes and demodulates the downlink signal in accordance with OFDMA. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 64 extracts various pieces of control information or data included in the demodulated reception signal. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 64 executes a process in accordance with the extracted control information or data. For example, when the downlink signal includes an audio signal, thecontrol unit 64 reproduces the audio signal through a speaker. When the downlink signal includes a video signal, thecontrol unit 64 reproduces the video signal through a touch screen. - Furthermore, the
control unit 64 executes various processes for executing wireless communication with thebase station 41, such as a connection request process. - Also, the
control unit 64 executes various processes for executing retransmission control. Thecontrol unit 64 generates, at a regular interval or at predetermined timing, an uplink signal including information that is used to determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, for example, CQI, the speed of themobile station 42, or the current position of themobile station 42. The predetermined timing may be, for example, the time of handover or the time of connection request. Subsequently, thecontrol unit 64 transmits the uplink signal to thebase station 41 via theradio processing unit 62 and theantenna 61. - Every time the
control unit 64 receives a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control from thebase station 41, thecontrol unit 64 controls application of retransmission control by referring to the information. For example, thecontrol unit 64 may control application of retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the operation flowchart illustrated inFIG. 7 , like thecommunication apparatus 12 in the second embodiment. - That is, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is applied, the
control unit 64 applies retransmission control. In this case, thecontrol unit 64 adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to an uplink signal. Thecontrol unit 64 may use a CRC code as an error detection code, for example. In addition, thecontrol unit 64 causes the uplink signal that has been transmitted to be kept stored in thestorage unit 63 until receiving, from thebase station 41, a signal (for example, an ACK signal) indicating that the transmitted data has or until a predetermined period elapses, so that the uplink signal may be retransmitted. When receiving a signal requesting retransmission (for example, a NACK signal) from thebase station 41, thecontrol unit 64 generates an uplink signal to be retransmitted including part or whole of the data included in the uplink signal. Thecontrol unit 64 transmits the generated uplink signal to thebase station 41 via theradio processing unit 62 and theantenna 61. - On the other hand, when the received control signal includes information indicating that retransmission control is not applied, the
control unit 64 does not apply retransmission control. In this case, thecontrol unit 64 does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data included in the uplink signal. In addition, in this case, thecontrol unit 64 may discard the data included in the uplink signal transmitted to thebase station 41 without storing the data in thestorage unit 63. -
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is applied, andFIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of data transmitted by an uplink signal when retransmission control is not applied. - As illustrated in
FIG. 11A , in a physical (PHY) layer, aCRC code 1102 with a predetermined length (for example, a length of 24 bits) is added to eachcode block 1101 included in an uplink signal. In thebase station 41, it is determined, by using theCRC code 1102, whether or not eachcode block 1101 is normally reproduced. When retransmission control is applied, in a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, atransport block 1103 and aCRC code 1104 with a predetermined length (for example, a length of 24 bits) for retransmission control, for example, for ACK/NACK determination of HARQ, are obtained from one or more code blocks 1101. Based on theCRC code 1104, it is determined whether or not thetransport block 1103 is. In a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, an RLC Protocol Data Unit (RLC PDU) 1105 is obtained from thetransport block 1103. TheRLC PDU 1105 is divided into a plurality ofRLC SDUs 1106. EachRLC SDU 1106 is transmitted, for example, from thebase station 41 to the host node apparatus in the form of an IP packet. - On the other hand, as illustrated in
FIG. 11B , also when retransmission control is not applied, it is determined whether or not eachcode block 1111 is, by using aCRC code 1112 with a predetermined length (for example, a length of 24 bits) added to eachcode block 1111 in the physical layer. In the MAC layer, atransport block 1113 is obtained from one or more code blocks 1111. However, when retransmission control is not applied, a CRC code for retransmission control is not added to thetransport block 1113. In the RLC layer, anRLC PDU 1115 is obtained from thetransport block 1113. TheRLC PDU 1115 is divided into a plurality ofRLC SDUs 1116. EachRLC SDU 1116 is transmitted, for example, from thebase station 41 to the host node apparatus in the form of an IP packet. - For another example, as illustrated in
FIG. 11C , in a layer in which a process related to retransmission control is executed ondata 1120 included in a signal transmitted by an uplink signal, whether or not to add anerror detection code 1121 for retransmission control may be switched. That is, when retransmission control is applied, theerror detection code 1121 may be added to thedata 1120. On the other hand, when retransmission control is not applied, theerror detection code 1121 may be omitted. Theerror detection code 1121 may be a CRC code or may be another error detection code. - As described above, in the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment, the base station determines whether or not to apply retransmission control and notifies the mobile station whether or not to apply retransmission control. The mobile station controls application of retransmission control in accordance with the notification. Thus, this wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to apply retransmission control, and is thus able to suppress a decrease in communication efficiency caused by retransmission control when retransmission control is not to be applied. As a result, this wireless communication system is able to increase communication efficiency.
- According to a modification example, the mobile station may determine whether or not to apply retransmission control, generate an uplink control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, and transmit the control signal to the base station. The base station may control application of retransmission control in accordance with the information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control, included in the control signal.
- In this case, for example, the
control unit 64 of themobile station 42 illustrated inFIG. 10 may execute the process of each of theretransmission control unit 241, thenotification unit 242, and the retransmissioncontrol execution unit 243 illustrated inFIG. 4 . In this case, thecontrol unit 64 may determine whether or not to apply retransmission control in accordance with, for example, the type of data transmitted from thebase station 41 to themobile station 42. For example, thecontrol unit 64 may specify, based on an application program or the like that thecontrol unit 64 is executing, the type of data transmitted from thebase station 41 to themobile station 42. When the data transmitted from thebase station 41 to themobile station 42 is data that is requested to be transmitted in real time, such as streaming data or voice call data, thecontrol unit 64 may determine not to apply retransmission control. Also when the data transmitted from thebase station 41 to themobile station 42 is data that is transmitted at a regular interval, such as data of Internet of Things (IoT), thecontrol unit 64 may determine not to apply retransmission control. On the other hand, when the data transmitted from thebase station 41 to themobile station 42 is data that is requested to be in themobile station 42, for example, a certain computer program, thecontrol unit 64 may determine to apply retransmission control. - Subsequently, the
control unit 64 may generate an uplink control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control and may transmit the control signal to thebase station 41 via theradio processing unit 62 and theantenna 61. - On the other hand, the
control unit 55 of thebase station 41 may control, based on the uplink control signal received from themobile station 42, application of retransmission control, like thecontrol unit 64 of themobile station 42. - According to another modification example, even when retransmission control is not applied, the
base station 41 or themobile station 42 may add an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a downlink signal or an uplink signal. Alternatively, thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 may cause an error detection code added to data when retransmission control is applied and an error detection code added to data when retransmission control is not applied to be different from each other. For example, the error correction capability of the error detection code (error correction code) added to data when retransmission control is not applied may be higher than the error correction capability of the error detection code (error correction code) added to data when retransmission control is applied. - According to still another modification example, one of the
base station 41 and themobile station 42 may transmit, to the other of thebase station 41 and themobile station 42, a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control. This control signal may be, for example, a signal transmitted via PDCCH, a signal of MAC CE, or a signal of RRC, as in the above-described embodiments. In addition, the criterion for determining whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control may be the same as the criterion for determining whether or not to apply retransmission control. Thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 that has received the control signal may control application of the error detection code related to retransmission control in accordance with the control signal. For example, when the control signal includes information indicating that an error detection code related to retransmission control is not to be added, thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 that has received the control signal does not add an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a transmission signal. In this case, themobile station 42 or thebase station 41 that has received the transmission signal may execute retransmission control by using an error detection code unrelated to retransmission control, for example, the CRC code added to the code block illustrated inFIG. 11A . On the other hand, when the control signal includes information indicating that an error detection code related to retransmission control is to be added, thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 that has received the control signal adds an error detection code related to retransmission control to data included in a transmission signal. Accordingly, the wireless communication system is able to dynamically switch whether or not to add an error detection code related to retransmission control to the data to be transmitted. In this wireless communication system, when an error detection code related to retransmission control is not to be added, a communication amount may be reduced by the amount of bits corresponding to the error detection code. As a result, this wireless communication system is able to increase communication efficiency. - The control signal may include information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control, together with information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control. Alternatively, one of the
base station 41 and themobile station 42 may transmit, to the other of thebase station 41 and themobile station 42, either of a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply an error detection code related to retransmission control and a control signal including information indicating whether or not to apply retransmission control. - The above-described embodiments or modification examples may be combined with one another. For example, the
communication apparatus 11 in the first embodiment may be thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 in the second embodiment or the modification examples. Also, thecommunication apparatus 12 in the first embodiment may be thebase station 41 or themobile station 42 in the second embodiment or the modification examples. - All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (17)
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US17/226,380 US20210226733A1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2021-04-09 | Communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method |
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