Title of Invention

METHOD FOR RETRANSMITTING DATA IN THE MULTI-CARRIER SYSTEM

Abstract A method for modifying a synchronous non- adaptive retransmission scheme to solve the limitation of the synchronous non-adaptive retransmission scheme is disclosed. A method for indicating not only the new data transmission but also the retransmission using a data scheduling message is disclosed. A method for determining whether there is an error in the ACK signal transmitted from a data reception end using another message to -be received later is disclosed. The retransmission method for a multi-carrier system includes: receiving a grant message including scheduling information for transmitting uplink data wherein a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling, transmitting the uplink data according to the scheduling information and retransmitting the uplink data according to second retransmission scheduling by receiving the second retransmission scheduling information associated with the uplink data with retransmission request.
Full Text [description]
[invention Title]
method for/Retransmitting data in the multi-carrier system
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a multi-carrier
system, and more particularly to a retransmission method
for use in the multi-carrier system.
[Background Art]
A mobile communication system allows each base
station or Node-B located in a single cell or sector to
communicating with a plurality of user terminals (e.g.,
user equipments) over a wireless channel environment.
In the case of a multi-carrier system or other
systems similar to the multi-carrier system, the base
station receives packet traffic from a wired Internet
network in the multi-carrier system or other similar
systems, and transmits the received packet traffic to
each terminal using a predetermined communication scheme.
In this case, the base station determines a
downlink scheduling, so that it determines a variety of
information according to the downlink scheduling, for
example, a user terminal which will receive data from the
base station, a frequency area to be used for data

transmission to the terminal, and timing information
indicating a transmission time of the data to be
transmitted to the terminal.
The base station receives packet traffic from the
user terminal according to a predetermined communication
scheme, and demodulates the received packet traffic, so
that it transmits the received packet traffic to the
wired Internet network.
The base station determines an uplink scheduling,
so that it determines a variety of information according
to the uplink scheduling, for example, a user terminal
which will transmit uplink data, a frequency band to be
used for the uplink data transmission, and timing
information indicating a transmission-time of the uplink
data. Generally, a user terminal having a superior or
good channel status is scheduled to transmit/receive data
using more frequency resources during a longer time.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a time-
frequency resource block for use in a multi-carrier
system.
Communication resources for use in a multi-carrier
system or other similar systems can be largely divided
into a time area and a frequency area.

The communication resources can be defined by

resource blocks. Each resource block includes N sub-
carriers and/or M sub-frames, and is configured in units
of a predetermined time. In this case, N may be set to
"1", and M may also be set to "1".
A single square of FIG. 1 indicates a single
resource block. A single resource block uses several sub-
carriers as a single axis, and uses a unit of a
predetermined time as another axis.
A base station in a downlink selects a user
terminal according to a predetermined scheduling rule,
allocates one or more resource blocks to the selected
user terminal. The base station transmits data to the
selected user terminal using the allocated resource
blocks.
According to uplink transmission, the base station
selects the user terminal, and allocates one or more
resource blocks to the selected user terminal according
to a predetermined scheduling rule. The user terminal
receives scheduling information, indicating that a
predetermined resource block has been allocated to the
user terminal itself, from the base station, and
transmits uplink data using the allocated resource.

Although data has been transmitted according to the
scheduling rule, the data may be unexpectedly damaged or
lost during the transmission process. In this case, there
are proposed a variety method for controlling the faulty
or erroneous operation, for example, an automatic repeat
request (ARQ) scheme and a hybrid ARQ (HARQ) scheme, etc.
The confirmation of the faulty or erroneous operation
according to the above-mentioned two schemes is operated
in frame units. Data transmitted during the frame unit is
hereinafter referred to as a frame.
The ARQ scheme waits for transmission of the ACK
signal after transmitting a single frame. If a reception
end correctly receives data of the frame, it transmits
the ACK signal. However, if an unexpected error occurs in
the frame, the reception end transmits a negative-ACK
(NACK) signal, and deletes the received erroneous frame
from its own buffer.
If the transmission end receives the ACK signal, it
transmits the next frame. Otherwise, if the transmission
end receives the NACK signal, it retransmits the frame.
The HARQ scheme allows the reception end to
transmit the NACK signal to the transmission end on the
condition that the received frame cannot be demodulated.
However, differently from the ARQ scheme, the HARQ scheme

does not delete the pre-received frame from the buffer,
and stores the pre-received frame in the buffer for a
predetermined period of time. Therefore, if the above-
mentioned frame is re-transmitted, in the HARQ scheme the
reception end combines the pre-received frame with a re-
transmitted frame, thereby it could increase the success
rate of data reception.
In recent time, many users prefer to the HARQ
scheme to the basic ARQ scheme.
There are a variety of types in the HARQ scheme.
For example, the HARQ scheme can be classified into a
synchronous HARQ scheme and an asynchronous HARQ scheme.
If initial transmission of data fails, the
synchronous HARQ scheme is designed to perform the next
retransmission of data at a timing point determined by a
system. For example, if it is assumed that the
retransmission timing point is set to a fourth time unit
after the initial transmission failure occurs, there is
no need to additionally indicate the fourth time unit
because the retransmission timing between the base
station and the user terminal is pre-engaged.
In other words, if the transmission end of data
receives the NACK signal, it re-transmits the frame every
fourth time unit until receiving the ACK signal.

In the meantime, the asynchronous HARQ scheme is
performed by the newly-scheduled retransmission timing
and the additional signal transmission. In other words, a
timing point at which the previously-failed frame is re-
transmitted is variable with a variety of factors such as
a channel status.
The HARQ scheme can be classified into a channel-
adaptive HARQ scheme and a channel-non-adaptive scheme
according to information indicating whether a channel
status is reflected in allocation of resources used for
retransmission.
The channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme (also called a
non-adaptive HARQ scheme) enables resource blocks used
for retransmission, and a MCS (Modulation and Coding
Scheme) level defining frame modulation and coding
methods to be operated according to a specific scheme
predetermined by initial transmission.
The channel-adaptive scheme (also called an
adaptive HARQ scheme) allows the above-mentioned resource
blocks and the MCS level to be variable with channels
status information.
For example, according to the channel-non-adaptive
HARQ scheme, a transmission end transmits data using
eight resource blocks during the initial transmission,

and then re-transmits the data using the same eight
resource blocks irrespective of a channel status acquired
by retransmission of the data.
On the other hand, according to the channel-
adaptive HARQ scheme, although data is initially
transmitted using 8 resource blocks, the data may also be
re-transmitted using eight or less resource blocks or
eight or more resource blocks according to the next
channel status as necessary.
According to the above-mentioned classification,
the HARQ scheme may have four combinations of the HARQ
schemes. According to unique characteristics of the
above-mentioned schemes, the most preferred combinations
of the HARQ schemes are an asynchronous channel-adaptive
HARQ scheme, and a synchronous channel-non-adaptive
scheme.
Generally, the asynchronous channel-adaptive HARQ
scheme adaptively changes a retransmission timing point
and the amount of used resources to others according to a
channel status, so that it can maximize the
retransmission efficiency. In the meantime, the
synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme has an
advantage in that there is almost no overhead because the

retransmission timing and the resource allocation for
retransmission are pre-engaged in a system.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Problem]
However, the above-mentioned asynchronous channel-
adaptive HARQ scheme has a disadvantage in that it
unavoidably increases an amount of overhead, so that it
is not generally considered for an uplink. And if the
synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme is used
under an excessively-changing channel status,
retransmission efficiency is excessively decreased.
[Technical Solution]
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
retransmission method for use in a multi-carrier system
that substantially obviates one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a
retransmission method in a multi-carrier system.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a method for indicating a retransmission request
via an uplink scheduling message in a multi-carrier system.

Another object of the present invention is to
provide a method for determining whether there is an
erroneous or faulty in an ACK/NACK signal at a reception
end of the ACK/NACK signal.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and in part will become apparent to those
having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the
following or may be learned from practice of the invention.
The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be
realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as
the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied
and broadly described herein, a retransmission method for a
multi-carrier system comprising: receiving a grant message
including scheduling information for transmitting uplink
data wherein a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is
predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling,
transmitting the uplink data according to the scheduling
information, and retransmitting the uplink data according
to second retransmission scheduling by receiving the second
retransmission scheduling information associated with the

uplink data with retransmission request.
The second retransmission scheduling information may
include changed information of at least one of a
retransmission timing, retransmission resource blocks, a
number of the retransmission resource blocks, and a
transmission format of retransmission the second
retransmission scheduling information with comparing with
the first retransmission scheduling.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a retransmission method for a multi-carrier system
comprising: receiving a grant message including scheduling
information for transmitting uplink data, transmitting the
uplink data according to the scheduling information,
receiving a grant message indicating a retransmission of
the uplink data, and retransmitting the uplink data.
The grant message may include information indicating
one of new data transmission and retransmission.
The information indicating one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission may apply a toggling
scheme to change a current value of the information to
another value if the new data transmission is indicated.
The information indicating one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission may be initialized if
the new data transmission is indicated, or be changed

according to a predetermined rule if the retransmission is
indicated.
If a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is
predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling and the
grant message indicating the retransmission includes second
retransmission scheduling information, the retransmission
may be performed according to the second retransmission
scheduling information.
In yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a retransmission method for a multi-
carrier system comprising: transmitting data, receiving an
acknowledgement signal of the data; and determining whether
an error occurs in the acknowledgement signal by referring
to a scheduling message received after the acknowledgement
signal.
The method may further comprise: maintaining the
data in a buffer even when the received acknowledgement
signal is an affirmative acknowledgement (ACK) signal.
Provided that the acknowledgement signal is the
affirmative acknowledgement (ACK) signal, if the scheduling
message indicates new data transmission, it may be
determined that the acknowledgement signal has no error;
and if the scheduling message indicates retransmission, it
may be determined that the acknowledgement signal has an

error.
In yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a retransmission method for a multi-
carrier system comprising: transmitting data, receiving an
acknowledgement signal of the data, and maintaining the
data in a buffer until receiving a scheduling message.
The method may further comprise: if the scheduling
message indicates a new data transmission, deleting the
data from the buffer, and transmitting new data; and if the
scheduling message indicates a retransmission,
retransmitting the data.
The acknowledgement signal may be at least one of an
affirmative acknowledgement signal, a stop message, and a
grant message.
The grant message may include information indicating
that there is no resource block allocated for the data
retransmission.
The acknowledgement signal may be transmitted to
interrupt the retransmission if resources for
retransmission data cannot be allocated at a predetermined
retransmission timing of the data.
The data may not be retransmitted at the
predetermined retransmission timing, and is then
retransmitted at the next retransmission timing.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing
general description and the following detailed description
of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and
are intended to provide further explanation of the
invention as claimed.
[Advantageous Effects]
If the retransmission method for the multi-carrier
system is based on a channel-non-adaptive retransmission
scheme, the present invention can flexibly or smoothly
schedule retransmission resources.
If the retransmission method for the multi-carrier
system is based on a synchronous retransmission scheme, the
present invention can flexibly or smoothly schedule the
retransmission timing point.
Also, the present invention can more effectively
perform the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme.
The present invention can properly cope with the
ACK/NACK errors, so that a communication performance
increases.
[Description of Drawings]
The accompanying drawings, which are included to
provide a further understanding of the invention,

illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with
the description serve to explain the principle of the
invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a time-
frequency resource block used for the scheduling of a
multi-carrier system;
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
general synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme
capable of being applied to an uplink transmission;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
retransmission method for use in a multi-carrier system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
retransmission method for use in a multi-carrier system
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for informing that a grant message indicating
which one of new data transmission and retransmission is
requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another
method for informing that a grant message indicating

which one of new data transmission and retransmission is
requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another
method for informing that a grant message indicating
which one of new data transmission and retransmission is
requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for indicating a retransmission stop according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for indicating a retransmission according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for transmitting a retransmission request message
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for simultaneously employing the retransmission
stop request message and the retransmission request
message according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
general NACK-to-ACK error;
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an
exemplary method for applying an embodiment of the
present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK error;
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating
another exemplary method for applying an embodiment of
the present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK
error;
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating
another exemplary method for applying an embodiment of
the present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK
error; and
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for controlling retransmission via the ACK/NACK
message according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[Best Mode]
Reference will now be made in detail to the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Prior to describing the present invention, it should
be noted that most terms disclosed in the present invention
correspond to general terms well known in the art, but some
terms have been selected by the applicant as necessary and
will hereinafter be disclosed in the following description
of the present invention. Therefore, it is preferable that
the terms defined by the applicant be understood on the
basis of their meanings in the present invention.
For the convenience of description and better
understanding of the present invention, general structures
and devices well known in the art will be omitted or be
denoted by a block diagram or a flow chart. Wherever
possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
The following embodiments are proposed by combining
constituent components and characteristics of the present
invention according to a predetermined format. The
individual constituent components or characteristics should
be considered to be optional factors on the condition that
there is no additional remark. If required, the individual
constituent components or characteristics may not be
combined with other components or characteristics. Also,
some constituent components and/or characteristics may be
combined to implement the embodiments of the present

invention. The order of operations to be disclosed in the
embodiments of the present invention may be changed to
another Some components or characteristics of any
embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, or
may be replaced with those of the other embodiments as
necessary.
The following embodiments of the present invention
will be disclosed on the basis of a data communication
relationship between the Node-B and the user equipment (UE).
In this case, the Node-B is used as a terminal node of a
network via which the Node-B can directly communicate with
the user equipment (UE) .
Specific operations to be operated by the Node-B in
the present invention may also be operated by an upper node
of the Node-B as necessary. In other words, it will be
obvious to those skilled in the art that various operations
for enabling the Node-B to communicate with the user
equipment (UE) in a network composed of several network
nodes including the Node-B will be operated by the Node-B
or other network nodes other than the Node-B.
The term "Node-B" may be replaced with a fixed
station, eNode-B (eNB), or an access point as necessary.
The user equipment (UE) may also be replaced with a
mobile station (MS) or a mobile subscriber station (MSS)

as necessary.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
general synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme
capable of being applied to an uplink transmission.
In the case of an uplink transmission, if the Node-
B has a UE, which will transmit data to implement the
UE's initial transmission, the Node-B informs the UE of
wireless resource information and timing information to
be used for the UE's data transmission, so that it
generally transmits a scheduling message for allowing the
UE's data transmission to the UE. The above-mentioned
scheduling message for allowing the UE's data
transmission and informing scheduling information is
hereinafter referred to as a grant message.
The UE receives the grant message, acquires
scheduling information, and transmits data to the Node-B
according to the acquired scheduling information.
In association with the transmitted (Tx) data, the
UE normally receives acknowledgment signal of the Tx data
from the Node-B, so that it may receive the ACK signal
from the Node-B or may also receive the NACK signal
requesting transmission of the data from the Node-B. If
the UE receives the ACK signal, it deletes the Tx data
from a buffer, and waits for a transmission of new data.

If the UE receives the NACK signal, it may retransmit the
Tx data according to a retransmission scheme.
In the case of data retransmission of a specific UE,
which has transmitted data to an uplink at a specific
time according to the synchronous channel-non-adaptive
HARQ scheme, the retransmission timing is pre-engaged in
a system. The resource block to be used for the
retransmission and the transmission format are equal to
those of the previous transmission.
Therefore, it is sufficient that the grant message
transmitted once from the Node-B should be transmitted to
the UE for the initial transmission. The next
retransmission may be operatedoperated by the ACK/NACK
signal indicating whether data has been retransmitted or
not without further informing retransmission timing
information and resource blocks to be used for the
retransmission.
In the case of the synchronous channel-non-adaptive
HARQ scheme, data retransmission can be operatedoperated
by transmission/reception of the NACK signal without
using additional scheduling information between the Node-
B and the UE. In other words, if the UE receives the NACK
signal from the Node-B while maintaining the initially-
transmitted data in its own buffer, the UE can retransmit

data using the same frequency resources and MCS
(Modulation and Coding Scheme) information as those of
the initial transmission at a retransmission timing point
having been predetermined before the retransmission.
However, in the case of maintaining characteristics
of the above-mentioned synchronous channel-non-adaptive
HARQ scheme, a collision between the transmitted (Tx)
data units may occur. In more detail, if the
retransmission is operatedoperated by the synchronous
channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme, situation like that
urgent data, high-priority control signals, or persistent
scheduling data should be transmitted at predetermined
retransmission timing using predetermined retransmission
resources can be occurred. In this case, if the UE, which
will retransmit data using the synchronous channel-non-
adaptive HARQ scheme, retransmits the data using a
corresponding resource at a pre-engaged timing point, a
collision between Tx data units of different UEs may
occur.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
retransmission method for use in a multi-carrier system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the
predetermined retransmission scheduling can be changed in

the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme based
multi-carrier system, and retransmission can be operated
according to the result of the changed retransmission
scheduling.
For the convenience of description, it is assumed
that the UE retransmits data via a second HARQ.process in
a 4-channel HARQ system, a first data is transmitted at
TTI=1, and the data cannot be retransmitted at TTI=9
which is a predetermined retransmission timing according
to the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme.
In this case, four HARQ processes having different
retransmission timing points are defined in the 4-channel
HARQ system, so that the 4-channel HARQ system allows the
individual HARQ processes to perform the retransmission
process during the same interval.
The aforementioned four HARQ processes are shown as
index 0 ~ index 3 respectively, in the center part of FIG.
3. That is, the index 0 ~ index 3 in the center part of
FIG. 3 is indicative of discriminating retransmission
timing information of the UE employing the first HARQ
process ~ the fourth HARQ process, respectively.
For example, the UE scheduled to retransmit data by
the second HARQ process retransmits corresponding data at

a timing of the first HARQ process. In other words, the
UE can retransmit the data at TTI=1, TTI=5, and TTI=9.
The Node-B transmits a grant message including
scheduling information to the uplink-scheduled DE. In
this case, the scheduling information informs a scheduled
frequency band at a scheduled Tx time the uplink-
scheduled UE to transmit uplink data. If the UE receives
the grant message, the UE transmits data according to the
scheduling information at the timing TTI=1.
The grant message may include a UE identifier (ID)
for identifying a corresponding UE, resource block (RB)
allocation information, information of transmittable data,
payload information, and transmission scheme information
such as MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) information.
The RB allocation information may be set to the
number of RBs to be used by the above-mentioned UE,
and/or the location information of the RBs. The above-
mentioned transmittable data information may be set to
the size of data capable of being transmitted from the UE
receiving the grant message. The above-mentioned payload
indicates a packet or frame part containing message data,
differently from a header part of a general communication
system.

If the incremental redundancy (IR) HARQ scheme is
also used as the retransmission scheme, the grant message
may further include the above-mentioned IR version
information for data retransmission. The IR HARQ scheme
from among various HARQ schemes performs channel encoding
of information data to improve a data reception (Rx)
performance, and transmits different coding bits whenever
the retransmission is operatedoperated.
The IR version information is associated with the
number of retransmission times of the synchronous HARQ
scheme, so that the transmission/reception end can
tacitly recognize the IR version information. That is, in
the case of using the synchronous HARQ scheme, the first
IR version is used for a first transmission, a second IR
version is used for a second retransmission, and a third
IR version is used for a third retransmission, so that
the number of retransmission times can be recognized by
the IR version information.
The Node-B receives data from the UE at the timing
TTI-1, and determines whether retransmission of the data
is required or not. If the data retransmission is no
longer required, the Node-B transmits the ACK signal to
the UE. Otherwise, if the data retransmission is required,
the Node-B transmits the NACK signal to the UE.

Referring to FIG. 3, the Node-B transmits the NACK
signal. It is assumed that the synchronous channel-non-
adaptive HARQ scheme is used, so that a reception (Rx) UE
can perform data retransmission although the Node-B does
not transmit additional retransmission scheduling
information when transmitting the NACK signal.
If the UE receives the NACK signal from the Node-B,
it retransmits the data, which has been transmitted at
the timing TTI=1, according to the second HARQ process at
the timing TTI=5. In this case, as previously stated
above, the UE retransmits data using resource blocks
which have the same size and location information as
those of the previous resource blocks used for the first
transmission.
The Node-B receiving the retransmitted (ReTx) data
determines whether retransmission of the ReTx data is
also required or not. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the
Node-B transmits the NACK signal to the above-mentioned
ReTx data.
In this case, the base station according to the
above-mentioned embodiment may change the retransmission
scheduling to another. If the Node-B transmits the NACK
signal to the UE so as to request retransmission of data,
the Node-B performs scheduling so that the data can be

retransmitted using other transmission blocks during the
retransmission according to the scheduling information.
Then, the Node-B informs the UE of the changed scheduling
information.
In brief, the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ
scheme is basically maintained, however, the
retransmission timing information, the RB used for the
retransmission, or the transmission scheme is changed to
another, so that the system flexibility increases.
If the retransmission scheduling is changed to
another according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the
Node-B informs the UE of the changed scheduling
information. The UE receives the NACK signal and the
changed scheduling information from the Node-B, so that
it will retransmit data according to the newly-received
changed scheduling information, instead of the
predetermined retransmission scheme.
According to this embodiment of the present
invention, although data transmission is operatedoperated
by the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme, the
RB size and location information, the retransmission
timing information, or the transmission scheme can be
adaptively changed to others.

A method for retransmitting data by changing the RB
used for the retransmission will hereinafter be described
In FIG. 3, provided that the UE transmits data
using the A resource block during the initial
transmission and the first retransmission, the Node-B
performs scheduling so that the data can be transmitted
using the B resource block, instead of the A resource
block, at the second retransmission timing according to
the scheduling information. And, the Node-B informs the
DE of information of the B resource block, so that the UE
can transmit data using the B resource block at the
second retransmission timing.
Therefore, in this case, differently from the
typical synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme
designed to transmit the NACK signal without any
retransmission scheduling information, the Node-B
transmits retransmission scheduling information of the
changed resource block (s) to the DE, so that the UE
performs data retransmission over the B resource block.
A variety of methods may be used to transmit the
changed scheduling information. A message format capable
of transmitting the changed scheduling information is
newly defined, so that data can be transmitted over a
control channel. Also, a conventional message format may

be extended or modified as necessary, so that the
convenience message format may also be used to transmit
the changed scheduling information. For example, the
change scheduling information may be transmitted over the
above-mentioned grant message.
In the case of using the above-mentioned embodiment,
if the Node-B must transmit data to another UE via the
retransmission timing and the corresponding resource
block (RB) , or must transmit other data of the
corresponding DE, the collision problem between Tx data
units can be solved.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
retransmission method for use in a multi-carrier system
according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a method for indicating whether data
is retransmitted using a scheduling message (e.g., a
grant message) on the condition of uplink data
transmission.
In this way, in the case where the Node-B transmits
information of the changed resource block using the
scheduling message, the scheduling message for the
retransmission includes specific information
corresponding to the NACK signal, so that there is no
need to additionally transmit the NACK signal. According

to the above-mentioned embodiment of FIG. 4, it will be
obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiment
of FIG. 3 can also be applied to the embodiment of FIG. 4
as necessary.
Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the embodiment
of FIG. 4 also assumes that the UE retransmits data via
the second HARQ process in the 4-channel HARQ system, a
first data is transmitted at TTI=1, and the data cannot
be retransmitted at TTI=9 in the synchronous channel-non-
adaptive HARQ scheme based multi-carrier system.
According to the above-mentioned embodiment of FIG.
4, the Node-B may transmit a grant message instead of the
NACK signal. Although FIG. 4 shows a method for
indicating a reception acknowledgement using both the
ACK/NACK signal and the grant message, the grant message
instead of the ACK/NACK signal of FIG. 4 can be
transmitted, so that the grant message can replace the
ACK/NACK signal function.
Although the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ
scheme is applied to the embodiment of FIG. 4 in the same
manner as in FIG. 3, data retransmission can be operated
on the basis of the changed scheduling information.
Specifically, the changed scheduling information is
transmitted via the grant message according to the

embodiment of FIG. 4, so that the embodiment of FIG. 4
can be more easily implemented.
If the Node-B informs the UE of the changed
scheduling information via the grant message, the MCS and
information associated with other transmission schemes
transmittable by the grant message can be transmitted in
the same manner as in the initial transmission. Needless
to say, the RB location, the number of used RBs, and the
MCS level may be changed and transmitted. In this case,
the MCS level is pre-defined between the Node-B and the
UE according to the payload size of Tx data and the
number of RBs.
In this way, in order to request the UE to
retransmit data using the grant message, it is preferable
that the grant message transmitted from the Node-B may
indicate whether new data transmission is requested or
retransmission is requested.
An exemplary method for allowing the UE to
recognize which one of the new data transmission and the
retransmission is requested by the Node-B will
hereinafter be described in detail.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for informing that a grant message indicating
which one of new data transmission and retransmission is

requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 5 adds an information bit
composed of one or more bits as transmission type
indication information, and indicates which one of the
new data transmission and the retransmission is requested
by the grant message using the added information bit.
According to the present invention, the transmission type
indication information is referred to as an NIB (New data
Indicator Bit) composed of 1 bit.
For example, if the grant message indicates the new
data transmission as shown in FIG. 5, the NIB is set to
"0", and then the grant message is transmitted with the
NIB of "0". If the grant message indicates the
retransmission as shown in FIG. 5, the NIB is set to "1",
and then the grant message is transmitted with the NIB of
"1". In other words, the DE receiving the grant message
checks the NIB value, so that it can determine which one
of the new data transmission and the retransmission is
indicated by the grant message on the basis of the
checked NIB value.
In the meantime, an unexpected error occurs in
reception of the grant message indicating the new data

transmission, so that the UE may be unable to recognize
which one of the new data transmission and the
retransmission is indicated by the following grant
message indicating the retransmission.
For example, although the Node-B transmits the
grant message indicating the retransmission to the UE,
the UE erroneously decodes the NACK signal of the
previous Tx timing, so that it is unable to recognize
whether the Node-B has transmitted the first grant
message indicating the retransmission or has erroneously
received the second grant message indicating the new data
transmission.
A variety of retransmission methods in which the
reception error of the grant message is considered will
hereinafter be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for informing that a grant message indicating
which one of new data transmission and retransmission is
requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 6 includes transmission type
indication information, and indicates which one of the
new data transmission and the retransmission is requested

by the grant message using the transmission type
indication information. In this case, the toggling scheme
for changing the value in a predetermined case is applied
the transmission type indication information. As a result,
the embodiment of FIG. 6 prepares against the reception
error of the grant message. In FIG. 6, the transmission
type indication information is also called "NIB" (New
data Indicator Bit), and it is assumed that the NIB is
composed of 1 bit.
For example, if the grant message indicates the new
data transmission as shown in FIG. 6, the NIB value may
be changed to another value. The NIB value is set to "1"
(i.e., NIB=1) as a grant message for indicating the new
data transmission to specific data "Datal".
Then, if the grant message indicates the new data
transmission to another data vlData2", the NIB value is
toggled to set to "0" (i.e., NIB=0) by the toggling
scheme.
In the case where the grant message indicating the
retransmission is applied to the UE at the next
retransmission timing, the value of NIB=0 remains
unchanged, so that the UE can recognize the occurrence of
the retransmission to the data "data2". In other words,

the NIB value is changed only when the grant message
indicating the new data transmission.
The UE receives the grant message, and determines
whether the NIB value of the received grant message is
different from another NIB value received in a previous
HARQ process. If the NIB value of the received grant
message is different from the other NIB value received in
the previous HARQ process, this means that the grant
message indicates the new data transmission, so that the
DE deletes all of data from the buffer and transmits new
data packet.
And, if the NIB value of the grant message received
in the UE is equal to the other NIB value received in the
previous HARQ process, this means that the grant message
indicates the retransmission, so that the UE retransmits
the data packet stored in the buffer.
As can be seen from FIG. 6, the UE may unexpectedly
miss the grant message indicating the new data
transmission. If a channel is in a deep fading status,
the Node-B may detect only energy of a very low level. In
this case, the Node-B transmits the grant message
indicating the retransmission.
If the Node-B transmits the grant message according
to the embodiment of FIG. 5, and the UE misses the grant

message, the above-mentioned UE may retransmit data to
another data "Data1" instead of "Data2". However, if the
toggling scheme is applied to the NIB value according to
the present invention, the above-mentioned problem can be
solved.
For example, if the UE receives the first grant
message indicating transmission of "Data2", the UE
compares the NIB value of the grant message indicating
the retransmission of "data2" with the NIB value of the
previous grant message, confirms that the two NIB values
are equal to each other, and performs retransmission of
"data2" stored in the buffer.
If the UE does not receive the initial grant
message indicating the transmission of "data2", the UE
compares the NIB value of the grant message indicating
retransmission of "data2" with the other NIB value of a
previous grant message, confirms that there is a
difference between the two NIB values, deletes "datal"
stored in the buffer, and begins to perform initial
transmission of "data2". Namely, from the viewpoint of
the UE, the above-mentioned operation is considered to be
the initial transmission, however, from the viewpoint of
the Node-B, the above-mentioned operation is considered
to be reception of retransmission data.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for informing that a grant message indicating
which one of new data transmission and retransmission is
requested in case that the grant message is used for
requesting retransmission according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 7 adds an information bit
composed of one or more bits as sequence number
information, and indicates which one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission is requested by the
grant message using the added information bit. According
to the present invention, the sequence number information
is referred to as a sequence number (SN).
If the SN is added to the grant message and then
the UE receives the resultant grant message including.the
SN, the UE can recognize which one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission is requested by the
grant message, and can also recognize what one of data is
retransmission-requested for by the grant message. A
method for establishing the SN value according to the
present invention is as follows.
The SN information is transmitted along with the
grant message, or is contained in the grant message and
is then transmitted, without distinguishing between the

new data transmission and the retransmission. Whenever
the Node-B receives a retransmission request of the same
data packet, the SN value increases by "1". If the new
data transmission is requested, the SN value is
initialized to be an initial value.
For example, it is assumed that the SN initial
value is set to "0". In other words, in the case of
transmitting the grant message indicating the new data
transmission, the SN value is set to "0". Therefore, if
the SN value transmitted along with the grant message is
not equal to the value of "0", the UE can recognize that
the above-mentioned grant message indicates the
retransmission.
Referring to FIG. 7, if the UE receives the grant
message and the SN value of the received grant message is
equal to "2", the UE performs retransmission of the
initially-transmitted data before 8 sub-frames denoted by
(2(SN) * 4 (HARQ channel) =8).
However, provided that the SN value is not equal to
"0" at a time at which the grant message is received, and
at the same time is not equal to the other SN value,
which should be received in association with current
retransmitting data, i.e., provided that the just-before
grant message is missed, the UE deletes all of data

stored in the buffer without retransmitting data of the
previously-received grant message, and begins to perform
the initial transmission of new data.
In more detail, as can be seen from FIG. 7, if the
UE misses or loses the grant message indicating the
initial transmission of "data2", or if the UE detects
energy of a very low level due to a deep-fading channel
although data has been transmitted, the Node-B transmits
a message indicating the retransmission along with the
signal of SN=1.
In this case, if the UE has not missed the previous
grant message, it can be recognized that the SN value,
which should be received in association with the current
retransmission data, is not equal to "2". Therefore,
since the SN=0 status is not established, the UE deletes
all of data associated with "datal" from the buffer and
performs retransmission of "data2", instead of performing
retransmission of "datal"
The "data2" instantaneous transmission operated by
the UE may be considered to be the retransmission request
from the viewpoint of the Node-B. However, if the UE has
previously missed the grant message indicating the
initial transmission of udata2", this means that the
initial transmission of "data2" is operated from the

viewpoint of the UE. As a result, the UE may not wrongly
recognize the retransmission data packet.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for indicating a retransmission stop according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 8 assumes that the
synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme and the
second HARQ process are used in the same manner as in
FIGS. 3 and 4.
In order to request the UE to stop the
retransmission, the Node-B may exemplarily use a stop
message, and a detailed description thereof will
hereinafter be described.
Referring to FIG. 8, the Node-B transmits the grant
message to the UE, so that it requests the UE to transmit
data. The UE checks the received grant message, and
performs uplink data transmission at the timing TTI=1.
The Node-B checks the data transmitted from the UE.
If retransmission of the data is required, the Node-B
transmits the NACK signal to the UE. Upon receiving the
NACK signal from the Node-B, the UE performs
retransmission of the data at a predetermined timing
according to the synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ
scheme at TTI=5.

According to this embodiment of the present
invention, the Node-B transmits the stop message to the
UE, so that it may stop the UE's retransmission at the
next retransmission timing based on the synchronous non-
adaptive HARQ scheme. The DE receiving the stop message
does not perform retransmission at a predetermined timing
TTI=9, does not delete data, having been transmitted at a
previous timing, from the buffer, and keeps the above-
mentioned data in the buffer. The UE receiving the stop
message does not perform retransmission for a
predetermined time, and does not delete data from the
buffer. In this case, the predetermined time may be equal
to two times the establish retransmission interval, or
may be set to a time consumed until the UE receives
specific information indicating either the new data
transmission or the retransmission from the Node-B.
Another method for requesting the UE to stop the
retransmission may be a method for employing the above-
mentioned grant message.
The Node-B transmits information indicating no
allocation RB to the UE via the grant message, so that it
may request the UE to stop the retransmission in the
synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ system. For example,
when transmitting the number of RBs contained in the

grant message or the RB size information contained in the
same grant message, the Node-B may include information of
"0" in the transmitted information.
If the Node-B stops the retransmission at the UE's
reserved retransmission timing, then the Node-B may
request retransmission via the same' HARQ process as that
of the initial transmission. The Node-B re-allocates
resource blocks (RBs) at the next retransmission timing
corresponding to the same HARQ process, and transmits the
RB information via the grant message indicating the
retransmission, so that retransmission of corresponding
data can be restated.
Thereafter, the Node-B transmits the NACK signal
requesting the retransmission to the UE, so that the QE
retransmits the previously-transmitted data stored in the
buffer at the next retransmission timing point TTI=13.
In the meantime, if the UE receiving the stop
message may receive the ACK signal from the Node-B within
a predetermined time, or may not receive the ACK signal
•within the predetermined time, it deletes data stored in
the buffer, and may be ready to transmit new data.
In this case, if there is no resource block to be
allocated for the retransmission at the reserved
retransmission because of other data transmitting, the US.

stops the retransmission for a little while, so that the
retransmission can be more flexibly scheduled.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for indicating a retransmission according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 9 discloses a method for
performing the retransmission using a retransmission
message. In this case of the embodiment of FIG. 9 it
assumed that the synchronous non-adaptive HARQ scheme is
basically applied to the above-mentioned method, and the
second HARQ process is also applied to the above-
mentioned method, so that the resultant data is
retransmitted at a corresponding timing.
Differently from the above-mentioned embodiments,
the embodiment of FIG. 9 allows the Node-B to use a
retransmission (ReTx) message to indicate the
retransmission, and allows the Node-B to use the stop
message to stop the retransmission in such a way that the
retransmission process is operated. The ReTx message and
the stop message are not limited to the above-mentioned
terms, and can also be replaced with other terms as
necessary.
The stop message of FIG. 9 is designed to perform
the same function as the stop message of FIG. 8. The stop

message of FIG. 9 does not retransmit the previously-
transmitted data, however, it requests the UE to maintain
data in the buffer.
The Node-B transmits a grant message for the new
data transmission to the selected UE. The DE checks the
grant message, and performs uplink transmission at TTI=1.
If the Node-B checks data transmitted from the UE and
determines the necessity of retransmission, and transmits
the ReTx message for requesting the retransmission to the
UE.
The UE receiving the ReTx message performs
retransmission of the previously-transmitted data. The
stop message of FIG. 9 is equal to that of FIG. 8, so
that its detailed description will herein be omitted for
the convenience of description.
Differently from FIG. 8, the embodiment of FIG. 9
allows the Node-B to transmit the grant message
indicating the retransmission, so that the retransmission
interrupted by the stop message is initiated as well as
the ReTx message.
In more detail, under the condition that the UE
does not delete data from the buffer by receiving the
stop message and does not perform the retransmission at
predetermined retransmission timing due to the stop

message, if the above-mentioned UE receives the grant
message indicating the retransmission, data kept in the
buffer is retransmitted at TTI=13.
In this case, if the UE receives the other grant
message indicating the new data transmission instead of
the retransmission, it resets the buffer, deletes data
kept in the buffer, stores new data in the buffer, so
that it may transmit the new data to the Node-B.
Under the above-mentioned situation, there are two
statuses, i.e., the retransmission status and the
retransmission stop status, so that the Node-B can inform
the UE whether the Node-B would retransmit data or would
stop transmission of the data using a single bit. In
other words, the Node-B informs the UE of the
retransmission using the ReTx message, and informs the UE
of the retransmission resumption using the stop message.
If the received (Rx) packet is unsuccessfully
demodulated, the Node-B transmits the ReTx message to the
UE. However, if the Node-B desires to temporarily stop
transmission of data applied to the UE at a predetermined
retransmission timing irrespective of the success or
failure of the demodulation, the Node-B transmits the
stop message to the UE.

When the UE receives the stop message from the
Node-B, it cannot immediately recognize whether the
received stop message is caused by the success of
reception, and cannot recognize whether the received stop
message aims to temporarily prevent the data from being
transmitted to the Node-B at a specific timing point.
The UE stores data in the buffer for a
predetermined time. If the above-mentioned UE receives
the grant message indicating the retransmission from the
Node-B, it retransmits the data stored in the buffer to
the Node-B. Otherwise, if the above-mentioned UE receives
the other grant message indicating the new data
transmission from the Node-B, the UE recognizes that the
data stored in the buffer has been successfully received,
i so that' it makes the buffer empty.
Although the grant message indicating the new data
transmission is not transmitted from the Node-B, if the
retransmission (RxTx) message is not transmitted from the
Node-B for a predetermined time, the UE may delete the
transmitted (Tx) data from the buffer.
As described above, the incremental redundancy (IR)
HARQ scheme can be used for the HARQ scheme. If the
synchronous non-adaptive HARQ scheme employing the stop
message and the IR version management scheme are combined

with each other according to this embodiment, the
misunderstanding of the IR version, corresponding to the
retransmission action caused by the ReTx grant message
located after the stop message, may occur.
While the DE receives the message and attempts to
perform the retransmission using the received message,
the Rx error of the previously-transmitted stop message
may occur. As a result, there arises the misunderstanding
of information indicating how many retransmissions are
between the OE and the Node-B. Namely, there arises the
misunderstanding of information indicating which one of
IR versions is applied to the retransmission, so that
data reception may be abnormally operated.
Therefore, if the Node-B transmits the grant
message indicating the additional retransmission, the
above-mentioned embodiment designates the IR version used
for ReTx data, and transmits the RxTx data using the
designated IR version.
In this case, there is no change in the grant
message indicating the retransmission, from among some
field areas contained in the other grant message
indicating the new data transmission using the
synchronous non-adaptive HARQ scheme, so that some fields
may not request the setup process. If the Node-B

transmits the IR version information using the above-
mentioned fields in which the setup process is no longer
required, it can transmit the IR version information
without adding a new field to the grant message.
For example, there is no change in payload size of
Tx data based on the synchronous HARQ scheme, thus, if a
payload field of the grant message indicating the new
data transmission is transmitted as a ReTx grant message,
the payload field is used as a field of information
designating IR version. Therefore, although the
retransmission is operated after the Node-B transmits the
stop message, the correct IR version can be indicated, so
that there could be no misunderstanding on the IR version.
For another example, a method for resetting the IR
version value to a predetermined value during the
retransmission can be used. In other words, this method
does not set the actual IR version value in consideration
of the previous retransmission, but sets a predetermined
value. Thus, if the Node-B transmits the grant message
indicating the retransmission after transmitting the stop
message, the above-mentioned method resets the IR version
value to the predetermined value, and transmits the
resultant IR version value to a corresponding OB.

In this case, the Node-B can inform the UE of the
reset IR version information using some fields, which are
contained in the grant message indicating the new data
transmission, without defining a new field.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for transmitting a retransmission request message
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 10 shows a method for
retransmitting data by changing a retransmission timing
in the synchronous non-adaptive HARQ scheme based multi-
carrier system. In order to allow the UE to perform
retransmission of data, it is assumed that the second
HARQ process is applied to the embodiment of FIG. 10.
Referring to FIG. 10, the Node-B selects a UE which
will perform uplink transmission, and transmits the grant
message to the selected UE. The UE receives the grant
message, and performs uplink transmission of data
according to corresponding scheduling information at
TTI=1.
The Node-B receives Tx data from the UE. If the
Node-B determines that the Tx data should be
retransmitted from the UE, it transmit the ACK/NACK
signal to the UE, so that the UE can recognize the
presence or absence of a retransmission request.

It is assumed that the multi-carrier system in the
above-mentioned embodiment of FIG. 10 employs the
synchronous channel-non-adaptive HARQ scheme. If the UE
receives the NACK signal from the Node-B, it retransmits
the data at a predetermined timing TTI=5. Then, if
retransmission of the data is required again, the Node-B
transmits the NACK signal so that it requests the UE to
perform the retransmission. In this case, the NACK signal
is retransmitted at a predetermined timing TTI=9.
However, this embodiment of FIG. 10 provides a
method for changing a retransmission timing. In more
detail, the Node-B cannot perform retransmission using
the resource blocks (RBs), having been used for the
ignition transmission, at a pre-engaged timing TTI=9, so
that the Node-B requests the UE to perform the
retransmission at another timing TTI=10. Thus, the Node-B
transmits information of the changed timing to the UE,
and the UE performs the retransmission at the changed
timing.
In the case of the synchronous HARQ-based system,
the timing point, at which the ACK/NACK signal, the
ReTx/Stop message, or the grant message is received, is
correlated with the other timing point at which data is
retransmitted as a response to each signal. In this way,

the retransmission timing point can be changed to another
as necessary.
For example, in the case of using the grant message
indicating the retransmission, the Node-B transmits the
grant message to the UE at a specific timing (at which
the retransmission can be executed) of the third HARQ
process timing. In this case, the above-mentioned grant
message must include information indicating that the
currently-transmitted ReTx grant message requests
retransmission of data associated with the third HARQ
process instead of the second HARQ process.
In order to perform the initial transmission and
the first retransmission, the UE transmits data using the
second HARQ process at corresponding timing intervals
TTI=1 and TTI=5. However, during the second
retransmission, the UE transmits data at the third HARQ
process timing. After receiving the ReTx grant message
including the changed HARQ process information, in order
to reply to the ReTx grant message, the UE retransmits
the data, which has been transmitted at the first HARQ
process, at the timing TTI=10 corresponding to the third
HARQ process.
If transmission of high-priority data is requested
by a corresponding resource block (RB) of a predetermined

timing, and the UE has difficulty in performing the
retransmission using the predetermined timing and RB
information, the above-mentioned operation enables the UE
to effectively communicate with the Node-B.
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
method for simultaneously employing the retransmission
stop request message and the retransmission request
message according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 11 provides a method for
more effectively performing the embodiment of FIG. 10
designed to change the retransmission timing, using the
stop message. According to this embodiment of FIG. 11, if
the retransmission timing desired to be changed is later
than the original scheduling timing, the embodiment of
FIG. 11 transmits the stop message at the original
retransmission timing.
In FIG. 11, if the Node-B performing scheduling
cannot allocate the corresponding resource block (RB) to
the originally-scheduled UE at the timing TTI=9, the
Node-B transmits the stop message to reserve the
retransmission to be performed at the timing TTI=9. In
this case, although the stop message does not request the
UE to perform the retransmission, this stop message

enables the UE not to delete corresponding data from the
buffer, so that the data is kept in the buffer, as
previously stated above.
The Node-B transmits the grant message for
requesting the UE to perform the retransmission at the
timing TTI=10 used as a retransmission indication timing.
In this case, specific information, indicating that
retransmission of the data having been transmitted to the
second HARQ process is requested, is included in the
above-mentioned grant message, so that the UE can
correctly recognize which one of data is retransmission-
requested by the Node-B.
If the above-mentioned specific information,
indicating that retransmission associated with the second
HARQ process is requested, is not included in the
aforementioned grant message, the UE recognizes that
retransmission associated with the third HARQ process is
requested at the timing TTI=10 according to the original
setup status, so that it has difficulty in implementing a
desired effect.
If the retransmission timing is changed as
described above, the Node-B is unable to provide the UE
with correct information indicating whether data will be
transmitted at the predetermined timing. So, if the UE

does not receive a retransmission request signal at a
predetermined timing, it may wrongly decide whether or
not to delete data from the buffer.
However, if the Node-B according to the above-
mentioned embodiment of FIG. 11 informs the UE of the
stop message, so that it prevents data of the UE from
being retransmitted at the predetermined timing. And,
resulting in the implementation of no collision between
the second HARQ process data and the third HARQ process
data can be expected. In brief, a data retransmission
method for changing a transmission timing (i.e., HARQ
process) using the synchronous HARQ-based scheme can be
more effectively performed.
Compared with the method for scheduling the
retransmission timing using the stop message, the above-
mentioned method of FIG. 11 is superior to the above-
mentioned method for scheduling the retransmission method.
Namely, in order to maintain the synchronous non-
adaptive HARQ characteristics, the UE must retransmit
\ data according to a retransmission timing based on the
second HARQ process. If the data is not retransmitted at
the timing TTI=9, the UE must wait for the next
retransmission timing TTI=13. However, a method for
changing transmission process (i.e., retransmission

timing) is also used, so that the data can Jbe
retransmitted at the timing TTI=10, resulting in no Tx
time delay.
If the Node-B desires to change the ReTx timing to
another as described in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is preferable
that the Node-B must determine which one of data is
retransmission-requested, and must inform the UE of the
determined result. In order to retransmit the changed
ReTx information, the Node-B may inform the UE of the
original HARQ process information of data to be
retransmitted at the timing TTI=10.
In this way, in order to inform the UE of the HARQ
process information, a new message format is defined and
used. If the Node-B transmits the grant message
indicating the retransmission, it may transmit the HARQ
process information using a specific field from among
fields contained in the grant message. In this case, the
specific field has no need to be changed during the
retransmission.
For example, in the case of the grant message for
transmitting new data and the ReTx grant message, there
is no change in the payload size of Tx data, so that a
field indicating the payload of the message for the new

data transmission may be used as the HARQ process
indication field.
For another example, in the case of using the grant
message indicating the retransmission, a field for
indicating the changed HARQ process information in the
grant message may be added to the above-mentioned grant
message as necessary. By the grant message indicating the
retransmission, there is a change in the HARQ process
during the retransmission. This HARQ process change can
be provided on the assumption that the UE would not
normally receive the above-mentioned retransmission grant
message. Therefore, if the UE does not receive the ReTx
grant message, an unexpected error may occur in overall
operations. Therefore, the field indicating the HARQ
process information is added to the above-mentioned grant
message, so that the Node-B may allocate the HARQ process
information to a resource allocation point for the new
data transmission, irrespective of the Tx timing.
" " If the retransmission is operated by the above-
mentioned HARQ scheme, the reception end may have two
kinds of errors (i.e., ACK-to-NACK error and NACK-to-ACK
error) when receiving the ACK/NACK signal.
The ACK-to-NACK error indicates a UE's erroneous
decoding operation, in which the UE decodes the ACK

signal into the NACK signal due to a channel status or
other factors although the Node-B has transmitted the ACK
signal to reply to Tx data of a transmission end (e.g.,
UE) .
The NACK-to-ACK error indicates that the UE decodes
the NACK signal into the ACK signal due to a channel
status or other factors although the Node-B has
transmitted the NACK signal for requesting the
retransmission upon receiving Tx data from the UE.
Operation schemes for employing the above-mentioned
embodiments when the NACK-to-ACK error occurs will
hereinafter be described.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a
general NACK-to-ACK error.
Referring to FIG. 12, the Node-B transmits the NACK
message after receiving data from the UE, and waits for
the UE to retransmit the data. However, if the NACK-to-
ACK error occurs, the UE does not wait for the
retransmission any longer, and deletes all of data stored
in the buffer.
According to the HARQ scheme based on the ACK/NACK
signal, although the Node-B waits for retransmitted data
from the UE, the UE does not transmit data any longer, so

that a time-frequency area is wasted by a predetermined
amount corresponding to the maximum number of ReTx times.
The Node-B detects energy using the HARQ scheme,
and determines the presence or absence of any error in
the ACK/NACK signal using the HARQ scheme. Specifically,
the Node-B can determine whether the NACK-to-ACK error
occurs. Namely, the Node-B determines that the
transmission end (e.g., DE) has not transmitted data to
the Node-B on the basis of the detected energy, or
determines whether an error has occurred although data
has been normally transmitted to the Node-B on the basis
of the detected energy.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an
exemplary method for applying an embodiment of the
present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK error.
If the Node-B detects the NACK-to-ACK error, the
embodiment of FIG. 13 provides a new scheduling method
for transmitting the DE's new data or new UE's data.
If the Node-B determines the occurrence of the
NACK-to-ACK error by detecting the energy, this situation
may occur because the DE may not transmit actual data to
the Node-B, or may also occur because the DE is in the
deep fading status.

If it is determined that the UE was in the deep
fading status, the Node-B may prefer to schedule other
frequency bands, instead of requesting the retransmission
from the UE. Therefore, if the NACK-to-ACK error occurs,
the Node-B terminates the prior data retransmission
process without requesting the retransmission from the UE,
and then performs new scheduling of the next UE where
data will be transmitted. In this case, retransmission of
the prior data can be operated by an upper layer.
Referring to FIG. 13, a first UE (UE1) receives the
grant message from the Node-B, and transmits uplink data
to the Node-B, In order to command the UE1 to retransmit
the data, the Node-B transmits the NACK signal to the UE1.
However, the UE1 mistakes the NACK signal for the
ACK signal although the Node-B has transmitted the NACK
signal. Thus, the UEl does not retransmit the data, and
the Node-B detects that a reception (Rx) signal has a
weak strength at a specific time at which retransmission
data will be received, so that the Node-B detects the
occurrence of the NACK-to-ACK error.
Although there is no NACK-to-ACK error (i.e., the
UEl has retransmitted data), the Node-B may mistake the
normal operation for the NACK-to-ACK error. In more
detail, because the UEl is in the deep fading status, the

Node-B may not receive UEl's retransmission data or may
not decode the UEl's retransmission data.
If the NACK-to-ACK error is detected by the Node-B,
the retransmission resources pre-scheduled by the
synchronous HARQ scheme are used as the UE's new data or
scheduling resources of other UEs.
As can be seen from FIG. 13, the Node-B newly
allocates resources reserved for the UEl's retransmission
to implement data transmission of a second UE (UE2).
If the grant message indicating the aforementioned
resources is transmitted to the UE2, the UE2 receives the
grant message and transmits uplink data.
Although the Node-B can detect the presence or
absence of the NACK-to-ACK error using the above-
mentioned method, it cannot prevent the resources from
being wasted using only the conventional ACK/NACK
operation scheme. As soon as the UE receives the ACK
signal, the UE makes its own retransmission buffer empty,
so that the UE has no more data to be retransmitted
although the Node-B retransmits the NACK signal in order
to request retransmission from the UE.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating
another exemplary method for applying an embodiment of

the present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK
error.
The embodiment of FIG. 14 provides a method for
maintaining Tx data of a transmission end in the buffer
during a predetermined time, without deleting the Tx data
from the buffer, although the transmission end does not
retransmit data upon receiving the ACK signal from the
reception end.
The above-mentioned embodiment of FIG. 14 is
similar to functions of the stop message. Namely, this
embodiment may be similar to the other embodiment for
transmitting the ACK signal used as the stop message. The
UE receiving the ACK signal does not retransmit data as
if the DE has received the stop message, however, and the
previously-transmitted data stored in the buffer is
maintained for a predetermined time.
For example, according to the uplink transmission,
when receiving the ACK signal from the Node-B, the UE
stores retransmission data of in the buffer during a
predetermined time without any change, instead of
deleting all of data stored in the buffer. Then, if the
UE receives again the NACK signal from the Node-B, it
immediately retransmits the data stored in the buffer to
the Node-B, so that resources are not unnecessarily

consumed. In this case, the predetermined time for
storing the data may be equal to a time reaching the next
retransmission at least.
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram illustrating still
another exemplary method for applying an embodiment of
the present invention in consideration of the ACK/NACK
error.
The embodiment of FIG. 15 provides a method for
maintaining Tx data of the transmission end in the buffer
without deleting the Tx data from the buffer, although
the transmission end does not retransmit data upon
receiving the ACK signal from the reception end. But, if
the ACK/NACK error occurs in the reception end, the
embodiment of FIG. 15 provides a method for transmitting
the scheduling message.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 15, although
the transmission end receives the ACK signal, it
continuously stores data in the buffer until receiving a
scheduling message for indicating the new data
transmission or the retransmission.
The transmission end continuously stores data in
the buffer until receiving the scheduling message from
the reception end. And, as soon as the' transmission end
receives the scheduling message indicating the new data

transmission from the reception end, it deletes all of
data stored in the buffer.
In the uplink transmission, the NACK-to-ACK error
occurs, the Node-B confirms the presence of the NACK-to-
ACK error by detecting energy, and performs new
scheduling as shown in FIG. 13. In this case, under the
condition that previous or old data has not been
successfully received, the Node-B transmits data to
another IE or transmits another data, resulting in an
increased FER. Thus, this embodiment of FIG. 15 transmits
a scheduling message after detecting the NACK-to-ACK
error, so that the Node-B can transmit ReTx data to the
erroneous UE using different frequency areas.
This embodiment of FIG. 15 may also be used as a
method for allowing the UE to determine the presence or
absence of the ACK/NACK error. The UE transmits data,
receives the ACK/NACK signal of the data, and determines
the presence or absence of the ACK/NACK error by
referring to the scheduling message received after the
ACK/NACK signal.
The UE is able to determine whether the
retransmission is operated at the reception time of the
ACK/NACK signal. However, the UE does not finally
determine the success or failure of data transmission

message, so that only the locations of used resource
blocks (RBs) are changed to other locations, but the MCS
level or other components may be equal to those of the
initial transmission. Otherwise, all of the RB location,
the number of used RBs, and the MCS level may also be
changed to others. In this case, the MCS level may be
pre-defined between the Node-B and the UE on the basis of
the payload size of Tx data and the number of used RBs.
A method for determining which one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission is indicated by the
grant message shown in FIG. 15 may be equal or similar to
those of the methods of FIGS. 5~7.
In this case, the grant message includes the
ACK/NACK information, so that there is no need to
additionally the ACK/NACK information. In more detail, a
reception end of data (e.g., Node-B) may simultaneously
transmit the ACK/NACK signal and the grant message.
However, if the Node-B transmits the grant message, there
is no need to transmit the ACK/NACK signal. If the UE
receives the grant message indicating the retransmission
from the Node-B, it disregards the received ACK/NACK
signal, and performs the retransmission via the resource
area requested by the Node-B.
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a

method for controlling retransmission via the ACK/NACK
message according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
The embodiment of FIG. 15 provides a method for
continuously storing Tx data in a buffer for a
predetermined time although the UE receives the ACK
signal, so that the Node-B can more effectively schedule
resources. After the UE receives the ACK signal, it
continuously stores Tx data in the buffer for the
predetermined time.
Thus, although the Node-B has not successfully
received the data from the UE, it compulsorily transmits
the ACK signal so that a retransmission operation of a
specific UE can be temporarily interrupted. If there is
no uplink resource to be allocated to a corresponding
retransmission UE at the retransmission timing, the
scheduling can be more flexibly operated.
The UE receiving the ACK signal does not retransmit
data at a corresponding time, but it does not delete the
data from the buffer until receiving the grant message.
As a result, the Node-B transmits the grant message
indicating the retransmission to the UE at a desired time,
so that it restarts retransmission of a corresponding
process by transmitting the grant message indicating the

retransmission at a desired time.
The above-mentioned retransmission interruption may
also be operated by the other grant message indicating
the retransmission. For example, the RB size of the grant
message indicating the retransmission is set to Ss0", so
that uplink retransmission of the corresponding terminal
can be temporarily interrupted. In this case, the Node-B
restarts retransmission of a corresponding process by
transmitting the grant message indicating the
retransmission at a desired time.
The present invention can be applied to an uplink
of the lx EV-DO synchronous system, and can also be
applied to an uplink of the 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution
due to less overhead.
The above-mentioned embodiments of the present
invention can be implemented by hardware, firmware,
software, or a combination of them.
In the case of implementing the present invention
by hardware, the present invention can be implemented
with ASICs (application specific integrated circuit), DSPs
(digital signal processors), DSPDs (digital signal
processing devices), PLDs (programmable logic devices),
FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), a processor, a
controller, a microcontroller, and a microprocessor, etc.

If operations or functions of the present invention
are implemented by firmware or software, the present
invention can be implemented in the form of a variety of
formats, for example, modules, procedures, and functions,
etc. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit so
that it can be driven by a process. The memory unit is
located inside or outside of the processor, so that it can
communicate with the aforementioned processor via a variety
of well-known parts.
It should be noted that most terminology disclosed
in the present invention is defined in consideration of
functions of the present invention, and can be differently
determined according to intention of those skilled in the
art or usual practices. Therefore, it is preferable that
the above-mentioned terminology be understood on the basis
of all contents disclosed in the present invention.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations can be made in the
present invention without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention cover the modifications and variations of
this invention provided they come within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.

[industrial Applicability]
As apparent from the above description, if the
retransmission method for the multi-carrier system is based
on a channel-non-adaptive retransmission scheme, the
present invention can flexibly or smoothly schedule
retransmission resources.
If the retransmission method for the multi-carrier
system is based on a synchronous retransmission scheme, the
present invention can flexibly or smoothly schedule the
retransmission timing point. Also, the present invention
can more effectively perform the synchronous channel-non-
adaptive HARQ scheme.
The present invention can properly cope with the
ACK/NACK errors, so that a communication performance
increases.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions and substitutions are possible,
without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[CLAIMS]
[Claim l] A retransmission method for a multi-carrier
system comprising:
receiving a grant message including scheduling
information for transmitting uplink data wherein a
retransmission scheme for the uplink data is predetermined
by a first retransmission scheduling;
transmitting the uplink data according to the
scheduling information; and
retransmitting the uplink data according to second
retransmission scheduling by receiving the second
retransmission scheduling information associated with the
uplink data with retransmission request.
[Claim 2] The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the second retransmission scheduling information
includes changed information of at least one of a
retransmission timing, retransmission resource blocks, a
number of the retransmission resource blocks, and a
transmission format of retransmission the second
retransmission scheduling information with comparing with
the first retransmission scheduling.

[claim 3) A retransmission method for a multi-carrier
system comprising:
receiving a grant message including scheduling
information for transmitting uplink data;
transmitting the uplink data according to the
scheduling information;
receiving a grant message indicating a
retransmission of the uplink data; and
retransmitting the uplink data.
[Claim 41 The method according to claim 3, wherein:
the grant message includes information indicating
one of new data transmission and retransmission.
[Claim 5l The method according to claim 4, wherein:
the information indicating one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission applies a toggling
scheme to change a current value of the information to
another value if the new data transmission is indicated.
[Claim 6] The method according to claim 4, wherein:
the information indicating one of the new data
transmission and the retransmission is initialized if the
new data transmission is indicated, or is changed according

to a predetermined rule if the retransmission is indicated.
[Claim 7] The method according to claim 3, wherein:
if a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is
predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling and the
grant message indicating the retransmission includes second
retransmission scheduling information,
the retransmission is performed according to the
second retransmission scheduling information.
[Claim 8] A retransmission method for a multi-carrier
system comprising:
transmitting data;
receiving an acknowledgement signal of the data; and
determining whether an error occurs in the
acknowledgement signal by referring to a scheduling message
received after the acknowledgement signal.
[Claim 9] The method according to claim 8, further
comprising:
maintaining the data in a buffer even when the
received acknowledgement signal is an affirmative
acknowledgement (ACK) signal.

[Claim 10] The method according to claim 9, wherein:
if the acknowledgement signal is the affirmative
acknowledgement (ACK) signal,
if the scheduling message indicates new data
transmission, it is determined that the acknowledgement
signal has no error; and
if the scheduling message indicates retransmission,
it is determined that the acknowledgement signal has an
error.
[Claim 111 A retransmission method for a multi-carrier
system comprising:
transmitting data;
receiving an acknowledgement signal of the data; and
maintaining the data in a buffer until receiving a
scheduling message.
[Claim 12] The method according to claim 11, further
comprising:
if the scheduling message indicates a new data
transmission, deleting the data from the buffer, and
transmitting new data; and
if the scheduling message indicates a retransmission,
retransmitting the data.

[Claim 13] The method according to claim 12, wherein:
the acknowledgement signal is at least one of an
affirmative acknowledgement signal, a stop message, and a
grant message.
[Claim 14] The method according to claim 13, wherein:
the grant message includes information indicating
that there is no resource block allocated for the data
retransmission.
[Claim 15] The method according to claim 11, wherein:
the acknowledgement signal is transmitted to
interrupt the retransmission if resources for
retransmission data cannot be allocated at a predetermined
retransmission timing of the data.
[Claim 16] The method according to claim 15, wherein:
the data is not retransmitted at the predetermined
retransmission timing, and is then retransmitted at the
next retransmission timing.

A method for modifying a synchronous non- adaptive retransmission scheme to solve the limitation of the synchronous
non-adaptive retransmission scheme is disclosed. A method for indicating not only the new data transmission but also
the retransmission using a data scheduling message is disclosed. A method for determining whether there is an error in the ACK
signal transmitted from a data reception end using another message to -be received later is disclosed. The retransmission method for
a multi-carrier system includes: receiving a grant message including scheduling information for transmitting uplink data wherein a
retransmission scheme for the uplink data is predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling, transmitting the uplink data according
to the scheduling information and retransmitting the uplink data according to second retransmission scheduling by receiving the
second retransmission scheduling information associated with the uplink data with retransmission request.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=tc303F2VnJexrXKE58jJGw==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 271989
Indian Patent Application Number 477/KOLNP/2009
PG Journal Number 12/2016
Publication Date 18-Mar-2016
Grant Date 14-Mar-2016
Date of Filing 04-Feb-2009
Name of Patentee LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Applicant Address 20, YEOUIDO-DONG, YEONGDEUNGPO-GU, SEOUL
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KIM, HAK SEONG LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
2 YOON, SUK HYON LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
3 AHN, JOON KUI LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
4 YUN, YOUNG WOO LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
5 KIM, EUN SUN LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
6 LEE, DAE WON LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
7 KIM, KI JUN LG INSTITUTE, HOGYE 1(IL)-DONG, DONGAN-GU, ANYANG-SI, GYEONGGI-DO 431-749
PCT International Classification Number H04L 1/18
PCT International Application Number PCT/KR2007/004831
PCT International Filing date 2007-10-02
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-2007-0099052 2007-10-02 U.S.A.
2 60/827,858 2006-10-02 U.S.A.
3 60/944,791 2007-06-18 U.S.A.
4 10-2007-0001215 2007-01-05 U.S.A.