Patent ID: 7710908
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of encoding and scheduling data packets in a communication system, the communication system comprising at least a sending node and at least two receiving nodes, and wherein the at least one sending node is arranged to buffer, schedule, encode and transmit regular data packets comprising information designated to at least one intended receiving node, the method characterised by the steps that: each receiving node selectively stores received data packets for which it is not the intended receiving node as a priori information and feeds back information about the a priori information to the sending node; the at least one sending node utilizes the information about the a priori information received from at least two of the receiving nodes to form and to transmit an optimal composite data packet to at least two receiving nodes, said optimal composite data packet comprising information designated to at least two receiving nodes and encoded in such a way that the intended receiving node for each of the at least two regular packets can decode the composite packet to obtain information for which it was the intended receiving node; and, the sending node transmits the optimal composite packet; wherein the step of forming and transmitting an optimal composite packet includes: