Improved throughput characteristics by ARQ with weighted majority decision

This paper proposes an error correction scheme that improves the throughput of ARQ. The scheme is very simple but effective, and it does not need any redundant bits. The scheme uses plural received data bursts for each bit to be re-sent and diversity reception. For instance, if a data burst is received using two branch diversity, it is regarded that two sets of data burst are received. The resending of the data burst allows four sets of data to be used for majority decision. These received data are weighted by the received signal strength and detected bit by bit. If no error is detected in this detected burst, no repeat request is sent, in spite of received bursts having errors which are detected by CRC. The improvement in throughput characteristics in a Rayleigh fading channel are estimated by computer simulations. The results show that the proposed scheme improves throughput by 46% at an average CNR of 20 dB and a floor error rate of 3×10^-3