Modern 5G communication systems implement a combination of error correction and feedback-based erasure correction (HARQ/ARQ) as reliability mechanisms, which can introduce substantial delay and resource inefficiency. We propose forward erasure correction using network coding as a more delay-efficient alternative. We present a mathematical characterization of network delay for existing reliability mechanisms and network coding. Through simulations in a network slicing environment, we demonstrate that network coding not only improves the in-order delivery delay and goodput for the applications utilizing the slice, but also benefits other applications sharing the network by reducing resource utilization for the coded slice. Our analysis and characterization point towards ideas that require attention in the 6G standardization process. These findings highlight the need for greater modularity in protocol stack design that enables the integration of novel technologies in future wireless networks.

翻译：现代5G通信系统采用纠错与基于反馈的擦除校正（HARQ/ARQ）相结合的方式作为可靠性机制，但这可能引入显著的延迟和资源低效问题。我们提出采用网络编码的前向擦除校正作为更具延迟效率的替代方案。我们对现有可靠性机制及网络编码的网络延迟进行了数学表征。通过在网络切片环境中的仿真实验，我们证明网络编码不仅能改善使用该切片的应用程序的有序交付延迟和有效吞吐量，还能通过降低编码切片的资源利用率，使共享网络的其他应用程序受益。我们的分析与表征指出了6G标准化进程中需要关注的方向。这些发现凸显了协议栈设计需要更高模块化的重要性，以便在未来无线网络中整合新兴技术。