阅读说明：本技术 Nr rlc分段拼接 (NR RLC segmented concatenation ) 是由 T·杜达 J-P·凯努莱南 J·L·普拉达斯 S·沙 于 2019-02-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：传送器在考虑何时和/或如何拼接一个或多个否定确认的(NACKed)服务数据单元(SDU)分段以用于重传时,会考虑与至少一个否定确认的无线电链路控制(RLC)SDU相邻的间隙分段的大小。取决于哪个(哪些)RLC SDU分段被否定确认,例如,考虑与所需的(一个或多个)协议数据单元(PDU)报头大小相关的否定确认分段的大小,传送器实现单个RLC SDU重传或多个RLC SDU分段重传。在这么做时,本文中提出的解决方案不仅定义了这样的传输如何发生,而且在重传这样的否定确认的SDU分段时提供了改进的效率。(The transmitter may consider a size of a gap segment adjacent to at least one negative acknowledged Radio Link Control (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) when considering when and/or how to concatenate one or more NACKed SDU segments for retransmission. Depending on which RLC SDU segment(s) is negatively acknowledged, the transmitter implements a single RLC SDU retransmission or multiple RLC SDU segment retransmissions, e.g., taking into account the size of the negative acknowledgement segment in relation to the required Protocol Data Unit (PDU) header size. In doing so, the solution presented herein not only defines how such transmission occurs, but also provides improved efficiency in retransmitting such negatively acknowledged SDU segments.)

1. A method (300) performed by a transmitter (20) for transmitting a radio link protocol, RLC, service data unit, SDU, to a receiver (30) in wireless communication with the transmitter (20), the method (300) comprising:

transmitting (310) a plurality of segments to the receiver (30), each of the segments comprising one or more bytes of the SDU;

receiving (320) at least one NACK from the receiver (30) identifying corresponding negative acknowledgement segments, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which the transmitter (20) receives a NACK;

identifying (330) gap segments adjacent to at least one of the negative acknowledgement segments, the gap segments comprising at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment;

generating (340) at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment, each of the at least one retransmission packet comprising at least one of a header and the negative acknowledgement segment; and

transmitting (350) the at least one retransmission packet to the receiver (30).

2. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the receiving (320) the at least one NACK comprises:

receiving a first NACK identifying a first negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU; and

receiving a second NACK identifying a second negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU;

wherein the first and second negative acknowledgement segments are adjacent to the gap segment and separated by the gap segment within the SDU.

3. The method (300) of claim 2, wherein the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises: generating a retransmission packet including the header, the gap segment, and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment.

4. The method (300) of claim 2, further comprising reducing the size of the header by an offset to determine a reduced header having a reduced header size, wherein the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises: generating a retransmission packet including the reduced header, the gap segment, and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments when the reduced header size exceeds the size of the gap segment.

5. The method (300) of claim 2, wherein:

the first negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to a first segment of the SDU and the second negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to any other segment of the SDU;

a first header associated with the retransmission of the first negative acknowledgement segment has a first header size and a second header associated with the individual retransmission of the second negative acknowledgement segment has a second header size greater than the first header size; and

said generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises: generating a retransmission packet including the first header, the gap segment, and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment.

6. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the receiving (320) the at least one NACK comprises:

receiving a first NACK identifying a first negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU;

receiving a second NACK identifying a second negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU adjacent to the first negative acknowledgement segment and adjacent to the gap segment; and

receiving a third NACK identifying a third negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU adjacent to the gap segment;

wherein the second and third negative acknowledgement segments are separated by the gap segment within the SDU.

7. The method (300) of claim 6, wherein the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises:

generating a retransmission packet including the header, the gap segment, and the first, second, and third negative acknowledgement segments when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment; and

generating first and second retransmission packets when the size of the gap segment exceeds the size of the header, the first retransmission packet including the header and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments, and the second retransmission packet including the header and the third negative acknowledgement segment.

8. The method (300) of claim 6, wherein:

the first negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to a first segment of the SDU, the second negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to a second segment of the SDU, and the third negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to any other segment of the SDU;

a first header associated with the retransmission of the first negative acknowledgement segment has a first header size and a second header associated with the separate retransmission of the second or third negative acknowledgement segment has a second header size greater than the first header size; and

said generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises:

generating a retransmission packet including the first header, the gap segment, and the first, second, and third negative acknowledgement segments when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment; and

generating first and second retransmission packets when the size of the gap segment exceeds the second header size, the first retransmission packet including the first header and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments, and the second retransmission packet including the second header and the third negative acknowledgement segment.

9. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the gap segment is between the negative acknowledgement segment and the end of the SDU.

10. The method (300) of claim 9, wherein:

the gap segments include at least one segment that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged;

the transmitter expects the at least one of the gap segments that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged to be negatively acknowledged; and

the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet further comprises: generating at least one retransmission packet including the at least one of the header, the gap segment, and the negative acknowledgement segment in response to the expectation.

11. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the gap segment comprises a first segment of the SDU, and wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of segments following the first segment of the SDU.

12. The method (300) of claim 11, wherein a first header associated with a retransmission that includes the first segment has a first header size and a second header associated with a separate retransmission that does not include the first segment has a second header size that is larger than the first header size, and wherein the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises:

generating a retransmission packet including one or more of the first header, the gap segment, and the negative acknowledgement segment when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment; and

generating a retransmission packet including one or more of the second header and the negative acknowledgement segment when the size of the gap segment exceeds the second header size.

13. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet comprises: generating a retransmission packet comprising two or more negative acknowledgement segments when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment, wherein two of the two or more negative acknowledgement segments are adjacent to and separated by the gap segment.

14. The method (300) of any of claims 1-13, wherein each of the at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment of the gap segment comprises a not yet transmitted segment of the SDU, an acknowledged segment of the SDU, or a not yet acknowledged or negative acknowledged transmitted segment of the SDU.

15. The method (300) of claim 1, wherein:

the gap segments include at least one segment that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged;

the transmitter expects the at least one of the gap segments that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged to be negatively acknowledged; and

the generating (340) the at least one retransmission packet further comprises: generating at least one retransmission packet including the at least one of the header, the gap segment, and the negative acknowledgement segment in response to the expectation.

16. The method (300) of any of claims 1-15, wherein the transmitter (20) is comprised in a wireless device (400, 500).

17. The method (300) of any of claims 1-15, wherein the transmitter (20) is comprised in a network node (600, 700).

18. A transmitter (20) for wireless communication with a receiver (30), the transmitter (20) comprising:

processing circuitry (410, 610), the processing circuitry (410, 610) configured to perform any of the steps of any of claims 1-15.

19. The transmitter (20) of claim 18, wherein the transmitter (20) is included in a wireless device (400, 500).

20. The transmitter (20) of claim 18, wherein the transmitter (20) is comprised in a network node (600, 700).

21. A computer program product for controlling a wireless transmitter (20), the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on at least one processing circuit (410, 610) in the wireless transmitter (20), cause the wireless transmitter (20) to perform any of the steps of any of claims 1-15.

22. A computer readable medium comprising the computer program product of claim 21.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Technical Field

The solution presented herein relates generally to retransmission of negatively acknowledged (NACKed) SDU fragments and, more particularly, to controlling when to concatenate (concatenate) and when not to concatenate one or more negatively acknowledged SDU fragments.

Background

The solution presented herein is described in the context of a radio (NR) radio technology under the third generation partnership project (3 GPP), such as 3GPP TS 38.300 V15.0.0 (2017-12). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the problems and solutions described herein are equally applicable to radio access networks and User Equipment (UE) implementing other access technologies and standards. NR is used as an exemplary technique suitable for this solution, and thus the use of NR in this description is particularly useful for understanding the problem and solving the problem. In particular, the solution proposed herein is also applicable to 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) or 3GPP LTE and NR integration, also known as non-independent NR or EN-DC (evolved universal mobile telecommunications system NR (EUTRA-NR) dual connectivity).

NR Radio Link Control (RLC) (see 3GPP TS 38.322 V15.0.0 (2017-12)) defines the RLC protocol. Higher layer Service Data Units (SDUs) are encapsulated in Protocol Data Units (PDUs) for transmission. If the SDU cannot fit into the transport block size used for transmitting the PDU, then SDU segmentation (segmentation) is applied. In an Acknowledged Mode (AM), the receiver sends a status report on the reception status of SDUs and SDU fragments to the transmitter. In response to the status report, the transmitter performs a retransmission of the SDU or SDU fragment. If an SDU fragment needs to be retransmitted but does not fit into the new transport block size for retransmission, re-segmentation may need to be applied. There currently exists certain challenge(s). It is currently unclear how the transmitting RLC entity applies re-segmentation when multiple SDU segments are considered for retransmission.

Disclosure of Invention

The solution presented herein takes into account the size of gap segments adjacent to at least one negatively acknowledged SDU segment when considering when and/or how to splice one or more negatively acknowledged SDU segments for retransmission. In doing so, the solution presented herein not only defines how such transmission occurs, but also provides improved efficiency in retransmitting such negatively acknowledged SDU segments.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and embodiments thereof may provide solutions to these and other challenges. An object of the solution presented herein is to provide an RLC retransmission scheme in which the RLC transmitter considers Negative Acknowledgements (NACKs) of multiple RLC SDU segments of a certain RLC SDU in a way that performs a segmented retransmission of the negative acknowledgements with minimal overhead. Depending on which RLC SDU segments are negatively acknowledged, e.g. considering their size relative to the required PDU header size, a single RLC SDU retransmission or multiple RLC SDU segment retransmissions are carried out. The solution presented herein can also be described as a method for RLC SDU segmentation splicing, wherein the concatenation of RLC SDU segments is considered for retransmission until a certain condition. For example, concatenation may be considered for conditions related to which RLC SDU segments receive negative acknowledgements, the transport block size for retransmission, and the full RLC SDU size.

Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). One advantage is that retransmission overhead, which potentially requires re-segmentation, is reduced. Another advantage is lower retransmission delay. In addition, system capacity and achievable throughput may increase due to reduced overhead.

One exemplary embodiment includes a method performed by a transmitter for transmitting a radio link protocol (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) to a receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter. The method includes transmitting a plurality of segments to a receiver, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The method further includes receiving at least one NACK from the receiver identifying corresponding negative acknowledgement segments, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which a transmitter receives the NACK. The method further includes identifying gap segments adjacent to at least one of the negative acknowledgement segments. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The method further includes generating at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and a negative acknowledgement segment, and transmitting the retransmission packet(s) to a receiver. In one exemplary embodiment, a transmitter receives a first NACK identifying a first negative acknowledgement segment of an SDU and receives a second NACK identifying a second negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU. The first and second negative acknowledgement segments are adjacent to the gap segment and separated by the gap segment within the SDU. For the exemplary embodiment, when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment, the transmitter may generate a retransmission packet including the header, the gap segment, and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments. Alternatively, for this example embodiment, the first negative acknowledgement segment may correspond to a first segment of an SDU and the second negative acknowledgement segment may correspond to any other segment of the SDU, wherein a first header associated with the retransmission of the first negative acknowledgement segment has a first header size and a second header associated with the separate retransmission of the second negative acknowledgement segment has a second header size that is larger than the first header size. In this case, when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment, the transmitter may generate the retransmission packet(s) including the first header, the gap segment, and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments.

In another exemplary embodiment, a transmitter receives a first NACK identifying a first negative acknowledgement segment of an SDU, a second NACK identifying a second negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU that is adjacent to the first negative acknowledgement segment and adjacent to a gap segment; and a third NACK identifying a third negative acknowledgement segment of the SDU adjacent to the gap segment; wherein the second and third negative acknowledgement segments are separated by a gap segment within the SDU. For this example, the transmitter may generate a retransmission packet including the header, the gap segment, and the first, second, and third negative acknowledgement segments when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment, and generate the first and second retransmission packets when the size of the gap segment exceeds the size of the header, wherein the first retransmission packet includes the header and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments, and the second retransmission packet includes the header and the third negative acknowledgement segment. In another example, the first negative acknowledgement segment corresponds to a first segment of an SDU and the second and third negative acknowledgement segments correspond to any other segment of the SDU, wherein a first header associated with a retransmission of the first negative acknowledgement segment has a first header size and a second header associated with a separate retransmission of the second or third negative acknowledgement segment has a second header size that is larger than the first header size. For this example embodiment, the transmitter generates a retransmission packet including the first header, the gap segment, and the first, second, and third negative acknowledgement segments when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment, and generates the first and second retransmission packets when the size of the gap segment exceeds the second header size, wherein the first retransmission packet includes the first header and the first and second negative acknowledgement segments, and the second retransmission packet includes the second header and the third negative acknowledgement segment.

In some embodiments, the gap may be at the beginning or end of the SDU. For example, the gap may be between the negative acknowledgement segment and the end of the SDU. When the gap-segment includes at least one segment that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged, and when the transmitter expects at least one of the gap-segments that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged to be negatively acknowledged, the transmitter generates at least one retransmission packet including at least one of a header, the gap-segment, and a negative-acknowledgement segment in response to the expectation. In another example, the gap segments comprise a first segment of the SDU, and wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of segments following the first segment of the SDU. In this example, wherein a first header associated with a retransmission including the first segment has a first header size and a second header associated with a separate retransmission not including the first segment has a second header size greater than the first header size, the transmitter generates a retransmitted packet including one or more of the first header, the gap segment, and the negative acknowledgement segment when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment, and generates a retransmitted packet including one or more of the second header and the negative acknowledgement segment when the size of the gap segment exceeds the second header size.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment, the transmitter generates a retransmission packet including two or more negative acknowledgement segments, wherein two of the two or more negative acknowledgement segments are adjacent to and separated by the gap segment.

In one exemplary embodiment, each of the at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment of the gap segment includes a not yet transmitted segment of the SDU, an acknowledged segment of the SDU, or a not yet acknowledged or negative acknowledged transmitted segment of the SDU.

In one exemplary embodiment, the gap segments comprise a first segment of an SDU and each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of segments following the first segment of the SDU. For this embodiment, the transmitter generates a retransmitted packet including one or more of the first header, the gap segment, and the negative acknowledgement segment when the second header size exceeds the size of the gap segment and generates a retransmitted packet including one or more of the second header and the negative acknowledgement segment when the size of the gap segment exceeds the second header size when a first header associated with a retransmission including the first segment has a first header size and a second header associated with a separate retransmission not including the first segment has a second header size greater than the first header size.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the size of the header exceeds the size of the gap segment, the transmitter generates a retransmission packet including two or more negative acknowledgement segments, wherein two of the two or more negative acknowledgement segments are adjacent to and separated by the gap segment.

In one exemplary embodiment, each of the at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment of the gap segment includes a not yet transmitted segment of the SDU, an acknowledged segment of the SDU, or a not yet acknowledged or negative acknowledged transmitted segment of the SDU.

In one exemplary embodiment, when the gap segments include at least one segment that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged, and when the transmitter expects at least one of the gap segments that has not been acknowledged or negatively acknowledged to be negatively acknowledged, the transmitter generates at least one retransmission packet including at least one of a header, a gap segment, and a negative acknowledgement segment in response to the expectation.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitter is included in a wireless device.

In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitter is included in a base station.

One exemplary embodiment includes a transmitter in wireless communication with a receiver. The transmitter includes processing circuitry configured to transmit a radio link protocol (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) to a receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter. To this end, the processing circuitry is configured to transmit a plurality of segments to the receiver, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The processing circuitry is further configured to receive at least one NACK from the receiver identifying a corresponding negative acknowledgement segment, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which the transmitter received the NACK. The processing circuitry is further configured to identify at least one adjacent gap segment in the negative acknowledgment segment. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The processing circuitry is further configured to generate at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and a negative acknowledgement segment, and transmit the retransmission packet(s) to the receiver.

One exemplary embodiment includes a transmitter in wireless communication with a receiver. The transmitter is configured to transmit a radio link protocol (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) to a receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter, wherein the transmitter includes a transmitter unit/circuit/module, a receiver unit/circuit/module, a gap unit/circuit/module, and a retransmission packet unit/circuit/module. The transmitter unit/circuitry/module is configured to transmit a plurality of segments to the receiver, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The receiver unit/circuitry/module is configured to receive at least one NACK from the receiver identifying a corresponding negative acknowledgement segment, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which a transmitter receives the NACK. The gap cell/circuit/module is configured to identify at least one adjacent gap segment in the negative acknowledgment segment. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The retransmission unit/circuit/module is configured to generate at least one retransmission packet in response to a size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and a negative acknowledgement segment. The transmitter unit/circuit/module is further configured to transmit the retransmission packet(s) to the receiver.

One exemplary embodiment includes a computer program product for controlling a wireless transmitter. The computer program product includes software instructions that, when executed on at least one processing circuit in a wireless transmitter, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a radio link protocol (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) to a receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter. To this end, the software instructions, when executed on the at least one processing circuit, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a plurality of segments to the receiver, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The software instructions, when executed on the at least one processing circuit, further cause the wireless transmitter to receive at least one NACK from the receiver identifying a corresponding negative acknowledgement segment, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which the transmitter received the NACK. The software instructions, when executed on the at least one processing circuit, further cause the wireless transmitter to identify a gap segment adjacent to at least one of the negative acknowledgement segments. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The software instructions, when executed on the at least one processing circuit, further cause the wireless transmitter to generate at least one retransmission packet in response to a size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and a negative acknowledgement segment, and transmit the retransmission packet(s) to the receiver. In some embodiments, a computer-readable medium comprises a computer program product. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication wireless network.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary RLC SDU, and a number of options for retransmitting negative acknowledgement segments.

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary method performed by a conveyor according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a wireless device according to an example embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of a wireless device according to another example embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a network node according to an example embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of a network node according to another example embodiment.

Fig. 8 shows an exemplary wireless network suitable for the solution presented herein.

Fig. 9 shows an exemplary UE suitable for the solution presented herein.

Fig. 10 illustrates an exemplary virtualization environment suitable for use with the solution presented herein.

Fig. 11 shows an exemplary telecommunications network suitable for use with the solution presented herein.

Fig. 12 shows an exemplary host computer suitable for use in the solution presented herein.

Fig. 13 shows an exemplary method implemented in a communication system according to an embodiment of the solution presented herein.

Fig. 14 illustrates another exemplary method implemented in a communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the solution presented herein.

Fig. 15 illustrates another exemplary method implemented in a communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the solution presented herein.

Fig. 16 illustrates another exemplary method implemented in a communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the solution presented herein.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary wireless network 10 including a transmitter 20 and a receiver 30. The transmitter 20 and the receiver 30 communicate wirelessly according to any known wireless communication standard. In some embodiments, the transmitter 20 is comprised in a network node (e.g., a base station) that transmits downlink wireless signals to the receiver 30 and receives uplink wireless signals from the receiver 30. In other embodiments, the transmitter 20 is included in a wireless device, such as a User Equipment (UE), that transmits uplink wireless signals to the receiver 30 and receives downlink wireless signals from the receiver 30.

Fig. 3 depicts a method 300 according to a particular embodiment implemented by the transmitter 20 of fig. 1. The method is implemented by a transmitter 20 for transmitting a radio link protocol (RLC) Service Data Unit (SDU) to a receiver 30 in wireless communication with the transmitter 20. The method 300 includes transmitting a plurality of segments to the receiver 30, wherein each of the segments includes one or more bytes of an SDU (block 310). The method 300 further includes receiving at least one NACK from the receiver 30 identifying a corresponding negative acknowledgement segment (block 320). Each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of the plurality of transmission segments for which the transmitter 20 receives a NACK. The method 300 further includes identifying gap segments adjacent to the at least one negative acknowledgement segment (block 330). The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The method 300 further includes generating at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment (block 340). Each of the retransmission packet(s) includes at least one of a header and a negative acknowledgement segment. The method 300 further includes transmitting the retransmission packet(s) to the receiver 30 (block 350).

As used herein, a gap segment is a segment of an SDU that is adjacent to at least one negative acknowledgement segment and has not been negatively acknowledged. For example, gap segments may be segments of an SDU that have been explicitly acknowledged, segments of an SDU that are assumed to be acknowledged (implicitly acknowledged) because a NACK has not been received for the segments of the SDU, and/or even segments that have not yet been transmitted.

Note that the apparatus described above may perform the methods and any other processes herein by implementing any functional components, modules, units or circuitry. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus includes corresponding circuitry or circuitry configured to perform the steps shown in the method diagrams. These circuits or circuitry may in this respect comprise circuitry dedicated to the execution of certain functional processes and/or one or more microprocessors together with a memory. For example, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), dedicated digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or more types of memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM), random access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, and so forth. In several embodiments, the program code stored in the memory may include program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols, as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In embodiments employing memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the techniques described herein.

The solution presented herein is applicable to any wireless transmitter 20 operating in a wireless network 10. Such a transmitter 20 may be included in any wireless node, including but not limited to a wireless device (e.g., a UE) or a network node (e.g., a base station).

For example, fig. 4 illustrates a wireless device 400 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, wireless device 400 includes processing circuitry 410 and communication circuitry 420. Communication circuitry 420 (e.g., radio circuitry), including the transmitters disclosed herein, is configured to transmit information to and/or receive information from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas internal or external to wireless device 400. Processing circuitry 410 and communication circuitry 420 are collectively configured to perform the above-described processing, such as by executing instructions stored in memory 430. In this regard, the processing circuitry 420 and/or the communication circuitry 420 may implement certain functional components, units, or modules.

Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a wireless device 500 in a wireless network, such as the wireless network shown in fig. 8, in accordance with still other embodiments. As shown, the wireless device 500 implements various functional components, units, circuits, or modules, e.g., via the processing circuitry 410 and/or via software code in fig. 4. For example, these functional components, units, circuits or modules for implementing the method(s) herein include, for example: transmitter unit/circuit/module 510, receiver unit/circuit/module 520, gap unit/circuit/module 530, and retransmit packet unit/circuit/module 540. Transmitter unit/circuitry/module 510 is configured to transmit a plurality of segments to receiver 30, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The receiver unit/circuitry/module 520 is configured to receive at least one NACK from the receiver 30 identifying corresponding negative acknowledgement segments, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of the plurality of transmission segments for which the transmitter unit/circuitry/module 510 received the NACK. Gap cell/circuit/module 530 is configured to identify at least one adjacent gap segment in the negative acknowledgment segment. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The retransmission packet unit/circuitry/module 540 is configured to generate at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and the negative acknowledgement segment. The transmitter unit/circuit/module 510 is further configured to transmit at least one retransmission packet to the receiver 30.

Fig. 6 illustrates a network node 600 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, network node 600 includes processing circuitry 610 and communication circuitry 620. Communication circuitry 620 (which includes the transmitter disclosed herein) is configured to transmit information to and/or receive information from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry 610 and communication circuitry 620 are collectively configured to perform the above-described processing, such as by executing instructions stored in memory 630. In this regard, the processing circuitry 610 and/or the communication circuitry 620 may implement certain functional components, units, circuits, or modules.

Fig. 7 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a network node 700 in a wireless network (e.g., the wireless network shown in fig. 8) according to still other embodiments. As shown, the network node 700 implements various functional components, units, circuits or modules, e.g., via the processing circuitry 610 and/or via software code in fig. 6. For example, these functional components, units, circuits or modules for implementing the method(s) herein include, for example: transmitter unit/circuit/module 710, receiver unit/circuit/module 720, gap unit/circuit/module 730, and retransmit packet unit/circuit/module 740. The transmitter unit/circuitry/module 710 is configured to transmit a plurality of segments to a receiver, wherein each of the segments comprises one or more bytes of an SDU. The receiver unit/circuitry/module 720 is configured to receive at least one NACK from the receiver 30 identifying corresponding negative acknowledgement segments, wherein each negative acknowledgement segment comprises one of a plurality of transmission segments for which a transmitter unit/circuitry/module 710 received the NACK. Gap cell/circuit/module 730 is configured to identify at least one adjacent gap segment in the negative acknowledgment segment. The gap segments include at least one non-negative acknowledgement segment. The retransmission packet unit/circuitry/module 740 is configured to generate at least one retransmission packet in response to the size of the gap segment, wherein each of the at least one retransmission packet includes at least one of a header and the negative acknowledgement segment. The transmitter unit/circuit/module 710 is further configured to transmit at least one retransmission packet to the receiver 30.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs.

A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on at least one processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry out any of the respective processes described above. In this regard, a computer program may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to the means or elements described above.