Analytic study of packet delay from 4G and 5G system ARQs using Signal Flow Graphs

Modern mobile networks in the era of 5G have ambitious performance goals. One envisioned goal is to have communication that is ultra-reliable and ultra-low latency (uRLLC). To ensure reliability, Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) processes are usually deployed, sometimes combined with forward error correction. As an evolution of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, 5G may be foreseen to use similar methods, and so we assume LTE’s Hybrid ARQ on the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and a Selective Repeat ARQ on the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer. Simulation of LTE systems is a time-consuming endeavor due to its complexity, and when latency and reliability are the key performance indicators, it may be preferable to isolate the ARQ processes. In this manner, this paper presents a mathematical model of the two stacked ARQ processes that are used in today’s LTE system. It is based on the method of Signal Flow Graphs (SFGs) and allows the analysis of either ARQ process in isolation, and of both stacked on top of each other. Analytic results are shown for a realistic set of parameters, and in the spirit of Open Science, the MATLAB implementation files are made available in the conclusion to interested researchers, so that verification and an adaption to similar ARQ processes is easily made.