Scheduling radio resource to a user equipment

Abstract

The disclosure provides methods for scheduling radio resource to a user equipment A method (200), performed by a network node (103), comprises transmitting a request (201, 607) to the UE (101) to indicate whether the UE (101) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101) attainable when the UE (101) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource. The network node (103) receives (202, 608a) a response from the UE (101), wherein the response indicates to the network node (103) whether the UE (101) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource. The network node (103) determines (203, 609) to schedule radio resource to the UE (101) based on the received response. Further, there is a method performed by the UE (101) for enabling the scheduling of radio resource.

Description

[0001] SCHEDULING RADIO RESOURCE TO A USER EQUIPMENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The disclosure relates to methods for scheduling radio resource to a user equipment. The disclosure also relates to a user equipment, a network node, and computer programs and computer program products comprising the computer programs, to carry out the methods for scheduling radio resources to the user equipment.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] The use of differentiated services, for example, a premium mobile broadband service, is of interest to both end-users and operators. At least some end-users can be expected to be willing to pay the operators for a premium service if there is a noticeable improvement in experienced quality.

[0006] In a cellular network, the coverage area is divided into smaller areas called cells, and each cell is served by a base station. In the cellular network, the quality of service experienced by a user equipment (UE) varies, depending on the UE’s position in a cell, interference from neighboring cells, and number of other simultaneously active user equipment, competing for the same radio resources, in the cell.

[0007] By means of priority scheduling, as the name indicates, UEs associated with a subset of high-priority users can be given priority in the scheduling of radio resources in a cell. The UEs associated with the subset of users with priority are thereby less sensitive to the number of other UEs active in the cell, and can, if in good positions within the cell, be provided good quality even if the overall number of UEs is high in the cell.

[0008] EP 1901442 B1 discloses a user prioritization scheme. Users are prioritized based on their average throughput. According to the disclosure, a "score" is maintained for each active user to be scheduled for data transmission. A scheduling processor then uses the scores to prioritize users for the channel assignments. A set of active users, users with data to transmit, is prioritized such that the user with the lowest score is assigned the highest priority, and the user with the highest score is assigned the lowest priority. The score is approximately proportional to a normalized average throughput of the user. Priority scheduling does not help if the main problem is a poor position of a UE in the cell, or high intercell interference. The position of the UE within a cell can significantly impact the network performance that the user of the UE experiences. If a UE is located too far from the base station or is obstructed by physical barriers such as buildings or trees, the signal quality received by the UE may be poor, leading to reduced network performance.

[0009] When a UE is located far from the base station, the signal strength received by the UE will be weaker, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) will be lower. A low SNR can cause errors in the transmission of data, leading to retransmissions, which can result in increased latency and decreased throughput.

[0010] In addition, a poor UE position can also lead to intercell interference. If a UE is located at the edge of a cell, the signals from neighboring cells may interfere with the signals in the UE’s own cell, leading to degraded signal quality and reduced network performance.

[0011] Intercell interference refers to the interference that occurs between different cells in the cellular network. When multiple base stations transmit signals simultaneously in adjacent cells, the signals may interfere with each other, leading to degraded signal quality and reduced network performance.

[0012] For an end-user of a UE the benefits of priority scheduling may appear random, which could negatively impact the value of the UE being prioritized. This is because priority scheduling mainly helps if poor network performance the end-user experiences is due to high load in the end-user’s own cell, and not when the poor network performance is mainly due to the UE’s position in the cell. Even if the end-user would have an understanding of the underlying phenomena, it is difficult for the end-user of the UE to understand what the current conditions in the cell are.

[0013] Displaying the signal strength on the UE gives an indication, to the end-user, of whether the UE is out of coverage but is no direct indication of the gain that would be obtainable with priority scheduling. It has been proposed to send a ‘load indicator’ to the UE and display an indication of system load for the end-user. System load has a correlation with the benefits of priority scheduling, but is not a direct indicator. For example, it does not take into account the effects of other already prioritized UEs. SUMMARY

[0014] It is an aim of the disclosure to improve scheduling of radio resources to a user equipment (UE) connected to a communication network and thus, to enable a better radio resource management in the communication network.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for scheduling radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network is provided. The method is performed by a network node in the communication network. The method comprises transmitting a request to the UE to indicate whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE attainable when the UE is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The method comprises receiving a response from the UE, wherein the response indicates to the network node whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The method comprises determining to schedule radio resources to the UE based on the received response.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for enabling scheduling of radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network is provided. The method is performed by the UE in the communication network. The method comprises receiving, from a network node, a request to indicate whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE attainable when the UE is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The method comprises transmitting a response to the request, wherein the response indicates whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The method comprises obtaining radio resources based on the transmitted response.

[0017] According to a third aspect, there is presented a network node for scheduling radio resources to a UE connected to the communication network. The network node comprises processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to transmit a request to the UE to indicate whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE attainable when the UE is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to receive a response from the UE, wherein the response indicating whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the network node to determine to schedule radio resources to the UE based on the received response.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, there is presented a UE for enabling scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The UE comprises processing circuitry configured to cause the UE to receive, from a network node, a request to indicate whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE attainable when the UE is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the UE to transmit a response to the request, wherein the response indicating whether the UE requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the UE to obtain radio resources based on the transmitted response.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect, there is presented a computer program, comprising instructions which when executed on a processor of a network node causes the network node to perform a method according to the first aspect.

[0020] According to a sixth aspect, there is presented a computer program product which comprises a computer readable storage medium on which a computer program according to the fifth aspect is stored.

[0021] According to a seventh aspect, there is presented a computer program, comprising instructions which when executed on a processor of a UE causes the UE to perform a method according to the second aspect.

[0022] According to an eight aspect, there is presented a computer program product which comprises a computer readable storage medium on which a computer program according to the seventh aspect is stored. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

[0023] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Features and advantages of the invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting, detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a communication network.

[0026] Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for scheduling radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network.

[0027] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for enabling scheduling of radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network.

[0028] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for scheduling radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network.

[0029] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for enabling scheduling of radio resources to a UE connected to a communication network.

[0030] Figure 6 illustrates a signaling diagram depicting the communication between various nodes of a communication network.

[0031] Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example network node.

[0032] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example UE. All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Scheduling resources to a user equipment (UE) connected to a communication network refers to a process of determining when and how a particular UE is allowed to access available radio resources (e.g., time slots, frequency bands, etc.) for transmitting and / or receiving data. In the communication network, multiple UEs may need to share the same radio resources, and scheduling is necessary to avoid interference and ensure efficient use of the available radio resources. In the communication network, scheduling radio resources to the UE is necessary to ensure efficient utilization of the communication network and to provide access to all users. When the UEs of multiple users are connected to the communication network, the UEs compete for resources such as bandwidth and processing power. Without scheduling, there is a risk of network congestion, where some users may experience slow data rates or dropped connections due to insufficient radio resources.

[0035] Moreover, scheduling can also ensure fair access to radio resources for all UEs, as it prevents any particular UE from monopolizing the network to the detriment of others. It can also help to enforce quality of service (QoS) guarantees, where different types of traffic can be assigned different priority levels based on their requirements. Radio resource scheduling in the communication network is a critical function that helps to optimize resource utilization, improve network performance, and ensure fair access to radio resources for all users.

[0036] A scheduling algorithm takes into account various factors such as the QoS requirements of different UEs, the amount of data to be transmitted or received, channel conditions, and the priority of the UEs. Based on these factors, the scheduler assigns radio resources to different UEs at different times, ensuring that each UE gets its share of the radio resources and the network capacity is utilized optimally.

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure proposes a network node, a method performed by the network node, a UE and a method performed by the UE for improving radio resource scheduling to the UE connected to a communication network. Scheduling radio resources to the UE connected to the communication network by the network node is performed by taking into account the knowledge of one or more radio conditions of the UE and traffic load levels in a cell in which the UE is present. Based on this knowledge the network node estimates the would-be gains of prioritizing the UE. The estimated gain is signaled to the UE and presented for the end-user of the UE. The end-user of the UE can then take this estimated gain into account when deciding to ask to be prioritized.

[0038] Figure 1 illustrates a communication network 100. The communication network 100 enables connectivity between UEs, communication network nodes. In that sense, the communication network 100 may be a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network and may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that comprise, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Evolved Packet System (EPS), 5th Generation System (5GS) or any applicable future generation standard (e.g.,3GPP 6G). The communication network

[0039] 100 here comprises one or more radio access network (RAN) nodes 102, and here comprises one or more core network nodes 104 of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or an 5th Generation Core (5GC). A RAN node 102 may comprise a base station, eNodeB of an LTE network, gNodeB of a New Radio network, or any other current or future implementation of functionality facilitating the exchange of radio network signals between nodes of the communication network 100 and / or UEs. The communication network 100 also comprises a network node 103. In an embodiment, the network node 103 is the RAN node 102. In an alternate embodiment the network node 103 is the core network node 104. In other embodiments, the network node 103 is a part of a network management centre or a network operations centre.

[0040] Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 for scheduling radio resources to the UE 101 connected to the communication network 100. The method 200 is performed by the network node 103. The method 200 comprises transmitting 201 a request to the UE 101 to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100.

[0041] Prioritizing the UE 101 during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 refers to a process of allocating radio resources, such as time and frequency resources (for example time slots, frequency bands) in a way that the UE

[0042] 101 is allocated radio resources before other UEs in the communication network 100. Prioritizing the UE 101 refers to prioritizing the data transmissions of the UE 101 over other UEs in the communication network, i.e. data transmissions to and / or from the UE 101. When scheduling radio resources in the communication network 100, it may be necessary to prioritize certain UEs based on their specific needs or requirements. This can be important in ensuring that critical applications of the UE 101 receive the necessary resources and that services and data of the critical applications are delivered in a timely manner. Prioritizing the UE 101 during scheduling of radio resources enables the UE 101 to receive the time slots or the frequency bands required for data transmission before other UEs in the communication network.

[0043] Different UEs may have different QoS requirements, depending on the type of traffic they generate and the applications they use. In general, UEs with higher QoS requirements may be given higher priority during resource scheduling. Some applications, such as real-time video or voice applications, require low latency and high throughput in order to function properly. UEs that are using these types of applications may be given higher priority during resource scheduling. The overall network conditions, such as congestion levels or available bandwidth, may also be taken into account when prioritizing UEs during radio resource scheduling. UEs that are located in areas with high congestion levels may be given higher priority in order to ensure that their traffic is delivered in a timely manner. Subscriber profiles can also be used to prioritize UEs during resource scheduling. For example, a subscriber with a higher service plan or a larger monthly data allowance may be given higher priority than a subscriber with a lower service plan.

[0044] In the available literature, the communication network may prioritize a particular UE based on its QoS requirements, based on types of application that the UE uses, and / or based on the subscriber profile of the UE, whereas in this disclosure, the network node 103 requests the UE 101 to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on the information associated with radio resource utilization that the UE 101 can attain when the UE 101 is prioritized during scheduling. By doing so, the network node 103 may enable the UE 101 to decide for itself whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized and the decision is based on the information associated with the radio resource utilization that the UE 101 can attain when the UE 101 is prioritized. Information associated with radio resource utilization may comprise a value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof. Information associated with radio resource utilization may comprise an estimated gain or loss in the value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof. Thus, when prioritized, benefits of being prioritized may not seem random to the UE 101 as the UE 101 is provided with, for example, an estimated gain in throughput or a loss in latency attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized prior to being scheduled. Referring to Figure 2, the method 200 comprises receiving 202 a response from the UE 101 , wherein the response indicates whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. The method 200 comprises determining 203 to schedule resources to the UE 101 based on the received response. The network node 103 may determine to prioritize the UE 101 when scheduling radio resources when the received response indicates that the UE 101 requires to be prioritized. The network node 103 may determine not to prioritize the UE 101 when scheduling radio resources when the received response indicates that the UE 101 requires not to be prioritized.

[0045] In some embodiments of the methods 200 and 300, the network node 103 is the RAN node 102. In such embodiments, the communication between the UE 101 and RAN node 102 occurs using the RRC protocol. In some embodiments of the methods 200 and 300, the network node 103 is the core network node 104. In such embodiments, the communication between the UE and the core network node 104 occurs using the non-access stratum, NAS, protocol.

[0046] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method 300 for enabling scheduling of radio resources to the UE 101 connected to the communication network 100. The method 300 is performed by the UE 101. The method 300 comprises receiving 301 , from the network node 103, a request to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. The method 300 comprises transmitting 302 a response to the request, wherein the response indicates whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. The method 300 comprises, in step 303, obtaining radio resources based on the transmitted response. The UE 101 may determine that the UE 101 requires prioritization during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on the information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized. For example, the UE 101 may determine that the UE 101 requires prioritization during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on an estimated gain in throughput or a loss in latency attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized or based on a value of latency attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized. The UE 101 refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other UEs connected to a communication network. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, personal digital assistant (PDA). Other examples include any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. A UE in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, home, city, wearable technology, extended reality, industrial application, and healthcare.

[0047] By way of example, the loT device for a home, an office, a building or an infrastructure may be a baking scale, a coffee machine, a grill, a fridge, a refrigerator, a freezer, a microwave oven, an oven, a toaster, a water tap, a water heater, a water geyser, a sauna, a vacuum cleaner, a washer, a dryer, a dishwasher, a door, a window, a curtain, a blind, a furniture, a light bulb, a fan, an air-conditioner, a cooler, an air purifier, a humidifier, a speaker, a television, a laptop, a personal computer, a gaming console, a remote control, a vent, an iron, a steamer, a pressure cooker, a stove, an electric stove, a hair dryer, a hair styler, a mirror, a printer, a scanner, a photocopier, a projector, a hologram projector, a 3D printer, a drill, a hand-dryer, an alarm clock, a clock, a security camera, a smoke alarm, a fire alarm, a connected doorbell, an electronic door lock, a lawnmower, a thermostat, a plug, an irrigation control device, a flood sensor, a moisture sensor, a motion detector, a weather station, an electricity meter, a water meter, and a gas meter.

[0048] By further ways of example, the loT device for use in a city, urban, or rural areas may be connected street lighting, a connected traffic light, a traffic camera, a connected road sign, an air control / monitor, a noise level detector, a transport congestion monitoring device, a transport controlling device, an automated toll payment device, a parking payment device, a sensor for monitoring parking usage, a traffic management device, a digital kiosk, a bin, an air quality monitoring sensor, a bridge condition monitoring sensor, a fire hydrant, a manhole sensor, a tarmac sensor, a water fountain sensor, a connected closed circuit television, a scooter, a hoverboard, a ticketing machine, a ticket barrier, a metro rail, a metro station device, a passenger information panel, an onboard camera, and other connected device on a public transport vehicle.

[0049] As further way of example, the communication loT device may be a wearable device, or a device related to extended reality, wherein the device related to extended reality may be a device related to augmented reality, virtual reality, merged reality, or mixed reality. Examples of such loT devices may be a smart-band, a tracker, a haptic glove, a haptic suit, a smartwatch, clothes, eyeglasses, a head mounted display, an ear pod, an activity monitor, a fitness monitor, a heart rate monitor, a ring, a key tracker, a blood glucose meter, and a pressure meter.

[0050] As further ways of example, the loT device may be an industrial application device wherein an industrial application device may be an industrial unmanned aerial vehicle, an intelligent industrial robot, a vehicle assembly robot, and an automated guided vehicle.

[0051] As further ways of example, the loT device may be a transportation vehicle, wherein a transportation vehicle may be a bicycle, a motor bike, a scooter, a moped, an auto rickshaw, a rail transport, a train, a tram, a bus, a car, a truck, an airplane, a boat, a ship, a ski board, a snowboard, a snow mobile, a hoverboard, a skateboard, rollerskates, a vehicle for freight transportation, a drone, a robot, a stratospheric aircraft, an aircraft, a helicopter and a hovercraft.

[0052] Figures 4 and 5 are flow charts illustrating embodiments of the methods 200 and 300, respectively.

[0053] Referring to Figure 4, the method 200 comprises receiving 401 a subscription request by the network node 103, from the UE 101 , to subscribe to a boost gain estimator (BGE) service hosted / offered by the network node 103. The BGE service comprises estimating a gain in resource utilization of the UE attainable when the UE is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network.

[0054] The method 200 comprises identifying 402 a cell, in the communication network, with which the UE 101 is connected. The identification of the cell is performed by the network node 103 in response to the received subscription request from the UE 101 . Identifying the cell comprises obtaining an identifier of the cell from the core network node 104. The embodiment of the method 200 here further comprises obtaining 403 information about radio resource utilization in the cell with which the UE is connected. The obtained information about radio resource utilization in the cell may comprise information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the identified cell. Information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the identified cell is here denoted by util_total. Information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the cell may comprise a value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof of all UEs that are a part of the identified cell. The obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell may comprise information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell. High priority UEs may refer to UEs that are prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. Information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell is denoted by utiljiigh. Information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell may comprise a value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof, of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell.

[0055] In an embodiment, the method 200 comprises estimating 404, in addition to any one of the actions receiving 401 , identifying 402, and obtaining 403, a gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 based on the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell. The gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized can be estimated using information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell and information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the identified cell. Estimating the gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may comprise estimating a relative gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized over other UEs during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. Relative gain of UE 101 refers to a gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized over other UEs in the communication network. Relative gain of the UE 101 refers to a gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 that is calculated in relation to other UEs in the communication network.

[0056] For example, relative gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized over other UEs in the communication network may be estimated using the following formula:

[0057] Estimating, 404, the gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized comprises estimating an absolute gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network. The absolute gain can be estimated by multiplying the relative gain with a data rate that the UE 101 may get when the radio resources to the UE 101 are scheduled.

[0058] The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated for a period of time and can remain valid for the period of time. The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated by considering traffic conditions, carrier bandwidth and / or signal quality experienced by the UE 101. The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated by considering traffic conditions, carrier bandwidth and / or signal quality experienced by the UE 101 over the period time during which the gain is estimated.

[0059] The method 200 comprises transmitting 405 the information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100. Transmitting 405 may comprise transmitting, to the UE 101 , the information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100. Transmitting 405, to the UE 101 , information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may comprise transmitting 405 information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized as a parameter in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol. Transmitting 405 may comprise transmitting to a server function hosted in a server device, the information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100. The server function can be present outside of a 3GPP protocol stack. The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may be communicated “over the top” (via OTT) to the UE 101 by the server function.

[0060] The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 may comprise the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell. The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 may comprise the estimated gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100.

[0061] A first embodiment of the method 200 comprises the estimating 404 the gain, the transmitting 405 the information, the transmitting 201 the request, the receiving 202 the response and the determining 203 to schedule.

[0062] A second embodiment of the method 200 comprises the receiving 401 the subscription request, the identifying 402 the cell, the estimating 404 the gain, the transmitting 405 the information, the transmitting 201 the request, the receiving 202 the response and the determining 203 to schedule.

[0063] Referring to Figure 5, in an embodiment, the method 300 comprises transmitting 501 the subscription request, to the network node 103, to subscribe to the BGE service offered by the network node 103.

[0064] In an embodiment, the method 300 comprises receiving 502 the information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 may be received from the network node 103. Receiving 502, from the network node 103, information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may comprise receiving 502 information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized as a parameter in the RRC Protocol. The information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 may be received from a server function hosted in a server device. The server function can be present outside of 3GPP protocol stack. The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may be communicated “over the top” (via OTT) to the UE 101 by the server function.

[0065] The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network

[0066] 100 may comprise information about radio resource utilization in a cell in which the UE

[0067] 101 is a part of. Information about radio resource utilization in the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of may comprise information about radio resource utilization of all UEs (utiljotal) that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of. Information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of may comprise a value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof of all UEs that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of. Information about radio resource utilization in the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of may comprise information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs (util_high) that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of. Information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of may comprise a value of one or more parameters such as throughput, latency, packet loss, jitter, error rate or a combination thereof, of all high priority UEs that are a part of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of.

[0068] A gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 can be estimated by the network node 103 according to one or more embodiments of method 200. The information associated with resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 may comprise the gain, estimated by the network node 103, in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100. The gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100 can be estimated by the UE 101. The method 300 comprises estimating 503 the gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 , attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized, using the information about radio resource utilization in the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of.

[0069] Estimating the gain in resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may comprise estimating a relative gain in resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network.

[0070] For example, relative gain in resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may be estimated using the following formula:

[0071] 1 — utiljiigh Relative gain = - - - - -

[0072] 1 — util_total such that, utilhigh< utiltotal< 1

[0073] Estimating the gain in resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized may comprise estimating an absolute gain in resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network. The absolute gain can be estimated by multiplying the relative gain with a data rate the UE 101 may get when the radio resources to the UE 101 are scheduled.

[0074] The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated for a period of time and can remain valid for the period of time. The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated by considering traffic conditions, carrier bandwidth and / or signal quality experienced by the UE 101. The gain (relative or absolute) can be estimated by considering traffic conditions, carrier bandwidth and / or signal quality experienced by the UE 101 over the period time during which the gain is estimated.

[0075] Receiving 301 the request from the network node 103 to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized comprises displaying a boost gain button on a user-interface of the UE 101 . The boost gain button may be displayed along with the estimated gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network 100.

[0076] A first embodiment of the method 300 comprises the estimating 503 the gain, the receiving 301 the request, the displaying 504 the boost gain button, the transmitting 302 the response and the obtaining 303 resources. If the UE 101 communicates with the RAN 102 node, the received request and the transmission of the response is here made using the RRC protocol. If the UE 101 in the first embodiment instead communicates with the core network node 104, then the request is received via a NAS protocol message and the transmission of the response is made via a NAS protocol message.

[0077] A second embodiment of the method 300 comprises the transmitting 501 the subscription request, the receiving 502 the information, the estimating 503 the gain, the receiving 301 the request, the displaying 504 the boost gain button, the transmitting 302 the response and the obtaining 303 resources. If the UE 101 communicates with the RAN 102 node, the transmission / sending of the subscription request, the reception of the information, reception 301 of the request and the transmission / sending 302 of the response is in the second embodiment made using the RRC protocol. If the UE 101 in the second embodiment instead communicates with the core network node 104, then the transmission / sending of the subscription request, the reception of the information, reception 301 of the request and the transmission / sending 302 of the response is made using the NAS protocol.

[0078] Figure 6 illustrates a signaling diagram depicting the communication between various nodes according to a third embodiment of methods 200 and 300, respectively.

[0079] The UE 101 is here configured to launch 601 an application. The UE 101 is configured to transmit 602 a subscription request, to the network node 103, to subscribe to the boost gain estimator BGE service offered by the network node 103. The subscription request can be transmitted by the application launched in the UE 101 , through an Application Service Provider (ASP) server 600 and through the core network node 104, to the network node 103. The ASP is a business providing application software generally over the internet or through a private network. An ASP server is a function that is owned and operated by the ASP to host and deliver software applications and related services to its clients over the internet or through a private network. The ASP server typically runs specialized software that allows it to deliver applications and services to users.

[0080] The ASP server may be implemented on physical server device or virtual machines that are hosted in data centers or cloud computing environments. ASP servers are typically optimized for delivering applications and services.

[0081] The network node 103 is configured to receive 602a the subscription request from the UE 101 . The network node 103 may be configured to accept the subscription request transmitted by the UE 101. In response to the received request, the network node 103 is configured to identify 603 the cell, in the communication network, in which the UE 101 is a part of. The identification of the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of, is performed by the network node 103 in response to the received subscription request from the UE 101. In the identification process, the UE 101 is configured to obtain an identifier of the cell from the core network node 104.

[0082] The network node 103 is configured to obtain 604 the information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell. The network node 103 is configured to obtain 604 the information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell from the RAN node 102.

[0083] The network node 103 is configured to estimate 605 the gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell.

[0084] The network node 103 is configured to transmit 606 the estimated gain to the UE 101. The UE 101 is configured to receive 606aa the estimated gain (estimated by the network node 103) in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 from the network node 103.

[0085] The network node 103 is configured to transmit 605a the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell to the UE 101 instead of the estimated gain. The UE 101 is configured to estimate 606a the gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 based on the received information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell. The UE 101 is configured to receive 605aa the information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell, or the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of, from the network node 103.

[0086] The network node 103 is configured to transmit the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell to the server function. The UE 101 is configured to receive 605aa the information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell, or the cell in which the UE 101 is a part of, from the server function.

[0087] The network node 103 is configured to transmit the estimated gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 to the server function. The UE 101 is configured to receive 606aa the estimated gain (estimated by the network node 103) in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100 from the server function. The server function may be hosted in a server device and can be present outside of 3GPP protocol stack.

[0088] The network node 103 is configured to transmit 607 a request to the UE 101 to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of resources based on the estimated gain. The UE 101 is configured to receive 607a a request from the network node 103 to indicate whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of resources based on the estimated gain. The UE 101 is configured to display the boost gain button in response to the received request from the network node 103. The UE 101 is configured to display the boost gain button along with the estimated gain in radio resource utilization of the UE 101 attainable when the UE 101 is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100.

[0089] The UE 101 is configured to transmit 608 a response to the request, wherein the response indicating whether the UE 101 requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resources in the communication network 100. The response to the request may be registered using the boost gain button. The boost gain button may be displayed in the application launched by the UE 101. The boost gain button may be displayed, using the ASP server 600, in the application launched by the UE 101. The network node 103 is configured to receive 608a the response from the UE 101 . The network node 103 is configured to determine 609 to schedule radio resources to the UE 101 based on the received response. The network node 103 may be configured to determine to prioritize the UE 101 when scheduling radio resources when the received response indicates that the UE 101 requires to be prioritized. The network node 103 is configured to determine not to prioritize the UE 101 when scheduling radio resources when the received response indicates that the UE 101 requires not to be prioritized. The network node 103 is configured to communicate 610 the determination to the RAN node 102.

[0090] The UE 101 is configured to obtain 611 radio resources based on the transmitted response. The UE 101 may be configured to obtain 611 resources, based on the transmitted response, from the RAN node 102.

[0091] Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example network node 103 which implements the method 200, as illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 6, according to examples of the present disclosure, for example on receipt of suitable instructions from a computer program 701 . The network node 103 comprises a processor or processing circuitry 702, and a computer program product 703 in the form of a memory 704 The processing circuitry 702 is operable to perform some or all of the steps of the embodiments of method 200 as discussed above with reference to Figures 2, 4 and 6. The memory 704 contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry 702 such that the network node 103 is operable to perform some or all of the embodiments of the method 200, as illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 6. The instructions also include instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols. The instructions are stored in the form of the computer program 701. In some examples, the processor or processing circuitry 702 include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, etc. The processor or processing circuitry 702 is implemented by any type of integrated circuit, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), etc. The memory 704 includes one or several types of memory suitable for the processor, such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, solid state disk, hard disk drive, etc. Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example UE 101 which implements the method 300, as illustrated in Figures 3, 5 and 6, according to examples of the present disclosure, for example on receipt of suitable instructions from a computer program 801. The UE 101 comprises a processor or processing circuitry 802, and a computer program product 803 in the form of a memory 804. The processing circuitry 802 is operable to perform some or all of the steps of the embodiments of method 300 as discussed above with reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6. The memory 804 contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry 802 such that the UE 101 is operable to perform some or all of the embodiments of the method 300, as illustrated in Figures 3, 5 and 6. The instructions also include instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols. The instructions are stored in the form of the computer program 801 . In some examples, the processor or processing circuitry 802 include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, etc. The processor or processing circuitry 802 is implemented by any type of integrated circuit, such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), etc. The memory 804 includes one or several types of memory suitable for the processor, such as readonly memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, solid state disk, hard disk drive, etc.

[0092] The methods of the present disclosure may also be used in UE prioritization in functions like Link Adaptation (LA) and / or Automatic repeat request (ARQ).This could involve using more robust modulation and coding schemes, that consume more resources, but in some cases lead to fewer retransmissions and thereby reduced delay.

[0093] The methods of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware, or as software modules running on one or more processors. The methods may also be carried out according to the instructions of a computer program, and the present disclosure also provides a computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for carrying out any of the methods described herein. A computer program embodying the disclosure may be stored on a computer readable medium, or it could, for example, be in the form of a signal such as a downloadable data signal provided from an Internet website, or it could be in any other form. It should be noted that the above-mentioned examples illustrate rather than limit the disclosure, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim, “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other unit may fulfil the functions of several units recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed so as to limit their scope.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method (200) for scheduling radio resource to a user equipment, UE, (101 ) connected to a communication network (100), the method being performed by a network node (103) in the communication network (100), the method comprising:- transmitting a request (201 , 607) to the UE (101 ) to indicate whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of a radio resource in the communication network (100) based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100);- receiving (202, 608a) a response from the UE (101), wherein the response indicates to the network node (103) whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100); and- determining (203, 609) to schedule radio resource to the UE (101 ) based on the received response.

2. The method (200) of claim 1 , comprising: receiving (401 , 602a) a subscription request, from the UE (101 ), to subscribe to a boost gain estimator, BGE, service offered by the network node (103).

3. The method (200) of any one of claims 1-2, comprising: transmitting (405), to a server (600), the information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100).

4. The method (200) of any one of claims 1-2, comprising: transmitting (405), to the UE (101), information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting, to the UE (101 ), information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when theUE (101 ) is prioritized comprises transmitting, to the UE (101), information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized as a parameter in a Radio Resource Control Protocol.

6. The method (200) of any one of claims 1-5, comprising: identifying (402, 603) a cell, in the communication network (100), to which the UE (101 ) is connected.

7. The method (200) of claim 5, wherein identifying the cell comprises obtaining an identifier of the cell.

8. The method (200) of any one of claims 6-7, comprising: obtaining (403, 604) information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell.

9. The method (200) of claim 8, wherein the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell comprises information about radio resource utilization of all UEs that are a part of the identified cell.

10. The method (200) of claim 9, wherein the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell comprises information about radio resource utilization of all high priority UEs that are a part of the identified cell.11 . The method (200) of any one of claims 1 -10, wherein the information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized comprises the obtained information about resource utilization in the identified cell.

12. The method (200) of any one of claims 1 -10, comprising: estimating (404, 605) a gain in radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100) based on the obtained information about radio resource utilization in the identified cell.

13. The method (200) of claim 12, wherein estimating the gain comprises estimating a relative gain.

14. The method (200) of claim 12, wherein estimating the gain comprises estimating an absolute gain.

15. The method of any one of claims 12-14, wherein the information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized comprises the estimated gain in resource utilization, of the UE (101), attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network (100).

16. A method (300) for enabling scheduling of radio resource to a user equipment, UE, (101 ) connected to a communication network (100), the method (300) being performed by the UE (101 ) in the communication network (100), the method (300) comprising:- receiving (301 , 607a), from a network node (103), a request to indicate whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100) based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100);- transmitting (302, 608) a response to the request, wherein the response indicating whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100); and- obtaining (303, 611 ) radio resource based on the transmitted response.

17. The method (300) of claim 16, comprising: transmitting (501 , 602) a subscription request, to the network node (103), to subscribe to a boost gain estimator, BGE, service offered by the network node (103).

18. The method (300) of any one of claims 16-17, comprising: receiving (502), from a server, the information associated with radio resourceutilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network (100).

19. The method (300) of any one of claims 16-17, further comprising: receiving (502), from the network node (103), the information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100).

20. The method (300) of claim 19, wherein receiving (502) information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized comprises receiving information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized as a parameter in the Radio Resource Control Protocol.21 . The method (300) of any one of claims 16-20, the information associated with resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized comprises information about radio resource utilization in a cell in which the UE (101 ) is a part of.

22. The method (300) of claim 21 , wherein information about radio resource utilization in the cell in which the UE (101 ) is a part of comprises information about radio resource utilization of all UEs in the cell in which the UE (101 ) is a part of.

23. The method (300) of any one of claims 21 -22, wherein the information about resource utilization in the identified cell comprises information about resource utilization of high priority UEs in the cell in which the UE is a part of.

24. The method (300) of any one of claims 21 -23, comprising: estimating (503, 606a) a gain in resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network (100) based on the information about radio resource utilization in the cell in which the UE (101 ) is a part of.

25. The method of any one of claims 16-20, wherein the information associated with radio resource utilization attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized comprises a gain, estimated by the network node (103), in radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of resources in the communication network (100).

26. The method of any one of claims 16-25, wherein receiving (301 , 607a) the request comprises displaying (504) a boost gain button on a user-interface of the UE (101 ).

27. A network node (103) for scheduling radio resource to a user equipment, UE, (101 ) connected to a communication network (100), the network node (103) comprising processing circuitry (702) configured to cause the network node (103) to:- transmit a request to the UE (101 ) to indicate whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100) based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100);- receive a response from the UE (101 ), wherein the response indicating whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100); and- determine to schedule radio resource to the UE (101 ) based on the received response.

28. The network node (103) as claimed in claim 27, wherein the processing circuitry (702) is further configured to cause the network node to perform a method according to any one of claims 2 to 15.

29. A User Equipment, UE, (101 ) for enabling scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100), the UE (101 ) comprising processing circuitry (802) configured to cause the UE (101 ) to:- receive, from a network node (103), a request to indicate whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100) based on an information associated with radio resource utilization of the UE (101 ) attainable when the UE (101 ) is prioritized during the scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100);- transmit a response to the request, wherein the response indicating whether the UE (101 ) requires to be prioritized during scheduling of radio resource in the communication network (100); and- obtain radio resource based on the transmitted response.

30. The UE (101 ) as claimed in claim 29, wherein the processing circuitry (802) is further configured to cause the UE (101 ) to perform a method according to any one of claims 17 to 26.31 . A computer program (701 ), comprising instructions which when executed on a processor (702) of a network node (103) causes the network node (103) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 -15.

32. A computer program product (703) which comprises a computer readable storage medium on which a computer program (701 ) according to claim 31 is stored.

33. A computer program (801 ), comprising instructions which when executed on a processor (802) of a UE (101 ) causes the UE (101 ) to perform a method according to any one of claims 16-26.

34. A computer program product (803) which comprises a computer readable storage medium on which a computer program (801 ) according to claim 33 is stored.

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