Transmission techniques in a cellular network

摘要

Various transmission techniques and protocols are discussed for a cellular network. In particular unacknowledged protocols are described, together with methods for configuring feedback. A method of data communication at the physical layer (layer 1) is disclosed, comprising: transmitting a configuration signal from a base station to a UE indicating whether the UE should utilise an acknowledged or unacknowledged protocol for data communication at the physical layer; receiving the configuration signal at the UE and the UE configuring itself to utilise the indicated protocol; and conducting data transmission between the UE and base station according to the indicated protocol. The configuration signal may be: an RRC signal, a DCI, a user-specific signal, part of the configuration of semi-persistent scheduling type data transmission, part of the configured grant (or grant-free) configuration. The acknowledged protocol may be a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). For use especially with massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) devices in a 5G New Radio, NR, environment, where ACK/NACK signalling for the transmission of small packets of data, may represent a significant overhead and power consumption.