HARQ protocol optimization for packet data transmission

摘要

The invention relates to a HARQ method using incremental redundancy and providing synchronous retransmissions. Further, the invention relates to a receiving entity and a transmitting entity employing the HARQ method and to a mobile communication system. To optimize conventional HARQ retransmission protocols, the invention introduces a feedback which allows requesting a self-decodable version of a data packet under certain conditions. Further, the feedback is provided in a backward compatible manner using a combination of conventional HARQ feedback signaling and scheduling related control signaling.