System and method for managing allocation of resources in a network

Abstract

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN A NETWORK A system (108) and a method (400) for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network (106) are described Initially, the system (108) receives data 5 from a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) and selects a first set of UEs meeting predefined entry criteria. These UEs are added to an active queue, where SRS resources are allocated. If the active queue reaches capacity, a second set of UEs meeting the predefined entry criteria is added to a candidate queue. If the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria, the first set of UEs is removed, 10 releasing their allocated SRS resources. The system (108) then shifts the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue. The system (108) optimizes spectral efficiency, enhances uplink performance, and ensures efficient use of SRS resources, resulting in improved network throughput and user experience. 15 Ref.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES IN A NETWORKRESERVATION OF RIGHTS

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and / or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (hereinafter referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of telecommunication networks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network.DEFINITION

[0003] As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used to indicate otherwise.

[0004] The term “Sounding Reference Signal (SRS)”, as used herein, refers to an uplink reference signal transmitted by a User Equipment (UE) to assist a gNodeB (gNB) in estimating uplink channel quality across different frequencies and time instances. The SRS is used for link adaptation, scheduling decisions, and beamforming in Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) networks.

[0005] The term “Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource”, as used herein, refers to a time-frequency resource in an uplink resource grid configured for transmission of SRS by a UE. The SRS resource defines the location and configuration for SRS transmission and may include parameters such as time-domain allocation, frequency-domain allocation, periodicity, antenna port configuration, and comb structure. Examples of SRS resources includes, but not limited to, specific Physical Resource Block (PRB) allocations in the uplink bandwidth, predefined Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within a slot, or periodic SRS transmission occasions configured by the gNB.

[0006] The term “(gNB)”, as used herein, refers to a base station in a Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) responsible for providing connectivity between the UE and a Fifth Generation Core (5GC) network. The gNB is responsible for SRS resource allocation, scheduling, and mobility management.

[0007] The term “Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO)”, as used herein, refers to an amount of buffered data awaiting transmission in the downlink directionfrom the gNB to the UE. The DL BO metric is used for scheduling decisions and determining the need for SRS allocation.

[0008] The term “Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR)”, as used herein, refers to a report sent by the UE to the gNB indicating the amount of data available for transmission in the uplink direction. The UL BSR assists the gNB in scheduling uplink.

[0009] The term “Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR)”, as used herein, refers to a signal quality measurement for the uplink data transmission on the PUSCH. The SINR metric is used to determine channel conditions and optimize SRS allocation.

[0010] The term “active SRS queue”, as used herein, refers to a list of UEs that have been allocated SRS resources based on their uplink and downlink transmission conditions. The UEs in the active SRS queue are configured to transmit SRS until they satisfy a predefined exit criteria.

[0011] The term “candidate SRS queue”, as used herein, refers to a list of UEs that satisfy the entry criteria for SRS allocation but are added to the candidate SRS queue when an active SRS queue has reached a predefined capacity. UEs in the candidate SRS queue may be shifted to the active SRS queue based on resource availability.

[0012] The term “predefined entry criteria”, as used herein, refers to one or more conditions that the UEs (e.g., first set of UEs) must satisfy to be eligible for SRS resource allocation. The predefined entry criteria may be determined based on one or more parameters, including DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR.

[0013] The term “predefined exit criteria”, as used herein, refers to one or more conditions that determine when the UEs are to be removed from the active SRS queue, and their allocated SRS resources are to be released. The predefined exit criteria may be determined based on one or more parameters, including DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR.

[0014] The term “first set of UEs”, as used herein, refers to a group of UEs from a plurality of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria and are added to the active SRS queue for allocation of one or more SRS resources. The first set of UEs is configured to transmit SRS using the allocated SRS resources until the predefined exit criteria are satisfied.

[0015] The term “second set of UEs”, as used herein, refers to a group of UEs from the plurality of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria but are added to the candidate SRS queue when the active SRS queue has reached a predefined capacity. The second set of UEs may subsequently be shifted to the active SRS queue when SRS resources become available.

[0016] The term “time to trigger duration” (interchangeably used as a predefined interval), as used herein, refers to a configurable time duration during which the UE is required to continuously satisfy the predefined entry criteria or the predefinedexit criteria before being added to or removed from the active SRS queue, respectively, thereby ensuring stability in SRS resource allocation.

[0017] The term “predefined selection mechanism”, as used herein, refers to a mechanism for shifting UEs from the candidate SRS queue to the active SRS queue based on a predefined order, such as First-In-First-Out (FIFO).

[0018] The term “Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)”, as used herein, refers to a block of downlink signals transmitted by the gNB to enable synchronization and initial access for the UE. The SSB comprises a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), and is transmitted in predefined time-frequency resources.

[0019] The term “Multi-Synchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB)”, as used herein, refers to a plurality of Synchronization Signal Blocks transmitted by the gNB across different beams or spatial directions to facilitate beam management and cell search procedures in a radio network. The Multi-SSB transmission enables the UE to measure signal quality across multiple beams and select an appropriate beam for communication.

[0020] The term “Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS)”, as used herein, refers to a downlink reference signal transmitted by the gNB to enable the UE to measure channel conditions and report Channel State Information (CSI) to the gNB. The CSI-RS is used for channel estimation, beam management, and link adaptation.BACKGROUND

[0021] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0022] In modern telecommunication systems, a Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radio network is crucial for improving spectral efficiency and network performance. Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) is a reference signal transmitted by a User Equipment (UE) in an uplink direction to enable gNodeB (gNB) to estimate the uplink channel quality over a wider bandwidth. Efficient allocation of SRS resources is critical for ensuring optimal network performance, particularly in high-density environments with a large number of UEs.

[0023] In the current SRS implementation, SRS resources are allocated to one or more UEs on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis. Once allocated, these resources remain assigned to one or more UEs for the entire duration of the UE’s connection to the network and are not released till the one or more UEs remain connected. Since the number of candidate UEs for which SRS resources may be allocated is limited. Thisleads to inefficient utilization of SRS resources, as many of the one or more UEs with low data transmission requirements may continue to occupy the allocated SRS resources, preventing their optimal use by other UEs with higher data needs.

[0024] Existing techniques do not dynamically adjust SRS resource allocation based on real-time uplink and downlink conditions. Additionally, there is no mechanism to reassign SRS resources from inactive or low-traffic UEs in an efficient and systematic manner. The lack of an adaptive approach leads to underutilization of valuable network resources and a decline in user experience due to inefficient scheduling.

[0025] There is, therefore, a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies of the prior arts.OBJECTIVE OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0026] Some of the objectives of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

[0027] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for dynamically managing an allocation of one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources in a network to optimize spectral efficiency and improve network performance.

[0028] Another objective of the present disclosure is to dynamically release the one or more SRS resources from a set of UEs that do not meet a predefined allocation criteria, ensuring that only eligible UEs retain the one or more SRS resources and preventing inefficient resource utilization.

[0029] Another objective of the present disclosure is to enable newly attached UEs to receive SRS resources without waiting for previously allocated UEs to be released, thereby improving resource availability and network responsiveness.

[0030] Another objective of the present disclosure is to enhance spectral efficiency by ensuring that the one or more SRS resources are allocated only to the set of UEs that provide the most significant performance gains, leading to better overall network utilization. With a dynamic SRS feature, the spectral efficiency of the radio network may be significantly increased as the SRS resources may be allocated and used only by the UEs that provide the most gain from utilizing the SRS resources. This may lead to a better user experience on the network, as the efficient utilization of SRS resources may result in an increase in user-experienced throughput.

[0031] Another objective of the present disclosure is to implement an active SRS queue and a candidate SRS queue for efficient resource reassignment. In this approach, a set of UEs (e.g., a first set of UEs) satisfying predefined entry criteria may be added to the active SRS queue, and additional eligible UEs (e.g., a second set of UEs) may be placed in the candidate SRS queue for optimal allocation.

[0032] Another objective of the present disclosure is to continuously monitor the set of UEs in the active SRS queue and release resources when the set of UEssatisfies the exit criteria, allowing for real-time reallocation of the one or more SRS resources to the set of UEs.

[0033] Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient allocation of the one or more SRS resources by selecting the UE on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis, thereby optimizing resource utilization and enhancing overall spectral efficiency in a Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radio network.

[0034] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.SUMMARY

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a processing engine, data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs). The method includes determining, by the processing engine, whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval. Upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria, the method includes adding, by the processing engine, the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs. Upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, the method includes adding, by the processing engine, a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue. The method further includes determining, by the processing engine, whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria. Upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the method includes removing, by the processing engine, the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources. In response to removing, the method includes shifting, by the processing engine, the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

[0036] In some embodiments, the received data includes at least one of Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) associated with the plurality of UEs.

[0037] In some embodiments, the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria for the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs include at least one of a buffer threshold condition associated with DL BO, a buffer threshold condition associated with UL BSR, and a channel quality condition associated with PUSCH SINR.

[0038] In some embodiments, each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria when at least one of the DL BO is above apredefined buffer threshold, the UL BSR is above a predefined buffer threshold, and the PUSCH SINK is above a predefined channel quality threshold.

[0039] In some embodiments, each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria when at least one of the DL BO falls below the predefined buffer threshold, the UL BSR falls below the predefined buffer threshold, and the PUSCH SINR falls below the predefined channel quality threshold.

[0040] In some embodiments, the active queue includes the first set of UEs that are allocated the one or more SRS resources.

[0041] In some embodiments, the candidate queue includes the second set of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria and are added to the candidate queue when the active queue reaches the predefined capacity.

[0042] In some embodiments, the method further includes serving, by the processing engine, the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue using MultiSynchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) in an uplink direction and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSLRS) in a downlink direction while the active queue remains at the predefined capacity. The method further includes monitoring, by the processing engine, the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue to determine whether the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria for the predefined interval, and upon determining that the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria, removing, by the processing engine, the second set of UEs from the candidate queue.

[0043] In some embodiments, the method further includes allocating, by the processing engine, the one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs when the second set of UEs are shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue.

[0044] In some embodiments, the one or more SRS resources correspond to time-frequency resources in an uplink resource grid configured for transmission of SRS by the first set of UEs for uplink channel estimation.

[0045] In some embodiments, the second set of UEs is shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue based on a First-In-Fir st- Out (FIFO) mechanism.

[0046] In some embodiments, the predefined capacity corresponds to a maximum number of UEs that are allowed to simultaneously transmit the SRS using the one or more SRS resources within the active queue.

[0047] In another exemplary embodiment, a system managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network is disclosed. The system includes a memory and a processing engine coupled with the memory to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory. The processing engine is configured to receive data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs), determine whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval, add the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs, add a secondset of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, determine whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria, remove the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, and shift the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

[0048] In yet another exemplary embodiment, a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed. The medium includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network. The method includes receiving, by a processing engine, data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs), determining whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval, adding the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs, adding a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, determining whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria, removing the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, and shifting the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

[0049] The foregoing general description of the illustrative embodiments and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure and are not restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

[0050] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that disclosure of such drawings includes disclosure of electrical components, electronic components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture implementing a system for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the system for managing the allocation of the one or more resources in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process flow for managing the allocation of the one or more resources in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram for managing the allocation of the one or more resources in the network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computer system in which or with which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0056] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the disclosure.List of reference numerals100 - Network Architecture102 -User(s)104 - User Equipments (UEs)106 - Network108 - System200 - Block diagram202 - Processor(s)204 - Memory206 -Interface(s)208 - Processing Engine210 - Database300 - Process Flow400 - Method flow diagram500 - Computer System510 - External Storage Device520 - Bus530 - Main Memory540 - Read Only Memory550 - Mass Storage Device560 - Communication Port570 - ProcessorDETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only some of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.

[0058] The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth.

[0059] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[0060] Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

[0061] The word “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and / or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinaryskill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive like the term “comprising” as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.

[0062] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an instance” or “one instance” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0063] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should be noted that the terms “mobile device”, “user equipment”, “user device”, “communication device”, “device” and similar terms are used interchangeably for the purpose of describing the invention. These terms are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or imply any specific functionality or limitations on the described embodiments. The use of these terms is solely for convenience and clarity of description. The invention is not limited to any particular type of device or equipment, and it should be understood that other equivalent terms or variations thereof may be used interchangeably without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

[0064] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the disclosure, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

[0065] In massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radio networks, a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) is a reference signal transmitted by a UserEquipment (UE) in the uplink direction, which a gNodeB (gNB) uses to estimate the uplink channel quality over a wider bandwidth.

[0066] In the existing SRS implementation, the UEs are allocated SRS resources on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, once the SRS resources are allocated to the UEs, they are not released until the UEs remain connected. Since the number of candidate UEs for which SRS resources can be allocated is limited, this leads to inefficient resource utilization, as many UEs with low buffers will also send the SRS.

[0067] To address these challenges, the present disclosure provides a system and method for managing the allocation of one or more SRS resources in a wireless communication network. The method dynamically releases one or more SRS resources allocated to a set of User Equipments (UEs) that no longer satisfy a predefined entry criteria for SRS allocation, thereby ensuring that the SRS resources are utilized only by an eligible set of UEs. This dynamic reallocation mechanism prevents inefficient utilization of SRS resources and enables newly attached UEs to obtain the one or more SRS resources without waiting for previously allocated UEs to be released by a gNodeB (gNB), thereby improving network responsiveness. Further, even when an active queue associated with SRS allocation reaches its predefined capacity, the UEs added to a candidate queue may continue to be served using Multi-Synchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) for channel measurements until SRS resources become available. By dynamically reallocating SRS resources and providing an alternative serving mechanism for the candidate UEs, the present disclosure improves utilization of radio resources and increases the overall spectral efficiency of the radio network.

[0068] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0069] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture (100) implementing a system (108) for managing an allocation of one or more SRS resources in a network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the network architecture (100) may include one or more user equipments (UEs) (104-1, 104-2, .... 104-N) associated with one or more users (102-1, 102-2, ...., 102-N) in an environment. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more users ( 102- 1 , 102-2, ... 102-N) may be individually referred to as the user (102) and collectively referred to as the users (102). Similarly, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more UEs (104-1, 104-2, ....104-N) may be individually referred to as the UE (104) and collectively referred to as the UEs (104). Although three UEs (104) are depicted in FIG. 1, however, any number of the user equipments (104) may be included without departing from the scope of the ongoing description. In an embodiment, each UE (104) may have a unique identifier attribute associated therewith. In an embodiment, the unique identifier attribute may be indicative of at least one of a Mobile Station International SubscriberDirectory Number (MSISDN), International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI), and the like.

[0071] In an embodiment, the UE (104) may include smart devices operating in a smart environment, such as an Internet of Things (loT) system. In such an embodiment, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, smartphones, smart watches, smart sensors (e.g., mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, etc.), networked appliances, networked peripheral devices, networked lighting system, communication devices, networked vehicle accessories, networked vehicular devices, smart accessories, tablets, smart television (TV), computers, a smart security system, a smart home system, other devices for monitoring or interacting with or for the users (102) and / or entities, or any combination thereof. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, intelligent, multisensing, network- connected devices that can integrate seamlessly with each other and / or with a central server or a cloud-computing system or any other device that is network-connected.

[0072] In an embodiment, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, a handheld wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, a smart phone, a phablet device, and so on), a wearable computer device (e.g., a head-mounted display computer device, a head-mounted camera device, a wristwatch computer device, and so on), a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or another type of portable computer, a media playing device, a portable gaming system, and / or any other type of computer device with a wireless communication capabilities, and the like. In an embodiment, the UE (104) may include, but is not limited to, any electrical, electronic, electro-mechanical, or an equipment, or a combination of one or more of the above devices, such as virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, a laptop, a general-purpose computer, a desktop, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a mainframe computer, or any other computing device. In addition, the UE (104) may include one or more in-built or externally coupled accessories including, but not limited to, a visual aid device such as a camera, an audio aid, a microphone, a keyboard, and input devices for receiving input from the user (102) or an entity such as touch pad, a touch enabled screen, an electronic pen, and the like. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the UE (104) may not be restricted to the mentioned devices and various other devices may be used.

[0073] In FIG. 1, the UE (104) may communicate with the system (108) via a network (106). In an embodiment, the network (106) may include at least one of a Fourth Generation (4G) network, Fifth Generation (5G) network, a Sixth Generation (6G) network, or the like. The network (106) may enable the UEs (104) to communicate with other devices in the network architecture (100) and / or with the system (108). The network (106) may include a wireless card or some other transceiverconnection to facilitate this communication. In another embodiment, the network (106) may be implemented as or include any of a variety of different communication technologies such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, a mobile network, a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or the like. In an embodiment, the network (106) may include, by way of example but not limitation, at least a portion of one or more networks having one or more nodes that transmit, receive, forward, generate, buffer, store, route, switch, process, or a combination thereof, etc. one or more messages, packets, signals, waves, voltage or current levels, some combination thereof, or so forth.

[0074] In an embodiment, the UE (104) may be communicatively coupled with the network (106). The system (108) may receive a connection request from the UE (104). The system (108) may send an acknowledgment of the connection request to the UE (104). The UE (104) may transmit a plurality of signals in response to the connection request. Once the connection is established, the system (108) may manage the allocation of the one or more SRS resources in the network (106). The process for managing the sequence of trace records is explained in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2-5.

[0075] Although FIG. 1 shows exemplary components of the network architecture (100), in other embodiments, the network architecture (100) may include fewer components, different components, differently arranged components, or additional functional components than depicted in FIG. 1. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the network architecture (100) may perform functions described as being performed by one or more other components of the network architecture (100).

[0076] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram (200) of the system (108) for managing the allocation of the one or more SRS resources in the network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is explained in conjunction with FIG. 1.

[0077] In an embodiment, the one or more SRS resources may refer to timefrequency resources in an uplink resource grid configured for transmission of SRS by the UE. The one or more SRS resources may include parameters such as time-domain allocation, frequency-domain allocation, periodicity, and transmission configuration associated with SRS signaling. In an embodiment, managing the allocation of one or more SRS resources refers to controlling the assignment, configuration, and utilization of the SRS resources among a plurality of UEs in the network (106). Such management ensures that the SRS resources are efficiently utilized for uplink channel estimation, scheduling, and beamforming purposes, while maintaining optimal usage of available radio resources.

[0078] In an embodiment, the system (108) may include one or more processor(s) (202). The one or more processor(s) (202) may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and / or any devices that process data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) (202) may be configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (204) of the system (108). The memory (204) may be configured to store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, which may be fetched and executed to create or share data packets over a network service. The memory (204) may comprise any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as random-access memory (RAM), or non-volatile memory such as erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), flash memory, and the like.

[0079] In an embodiment, the system (108) may include an interface(s) (206). The interface(s) (206) may comprise a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices (I / O), storage devices, and the like. The interface(s) (206) may facilitate communication through the system (108). The interface(s) (206) may also provide a communication pathway for one or more components of the system (108). Examples of such components include, but are not limited to, a processing engine (208), and a database (210).

[0080] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) may be implemented as a combination of hardware and programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more functionalities of the processing engine (208). In the examples described herein, such combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the programming for the processing engine (208) may be processor-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, and the hardware for the processing engine (208) may comprise a processing resource (for example, one or more processors), to execute such instructions. In the present examples, the machine-readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processing resource, implement the processing engine (208). In such examples, the system (108) may comprise the machine-readable storage medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the instructions, or the machine-readable storage medium may be separate but accessible to the system (108) and the processing resource. In other examples, the processing engine (208) may be implemented by electronic circuitry.

[0081] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) is configured to manage the allocation of the one or more resources in the network (106) to optimize spectral efficiency and improve uplink channel estimation for network operations. In an embodiment, the network (106) includes a gNodeB (gNB). The processing engine(208) may be implemented as part of the gNB. The gNB serves as a base station in a Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) and provides connectivity between a plurality of UEs (e.g., UE (104)) and a Fifth Generation Core (5GC) network (e.g., network (106)). In an embodiment, the gNB is connected to the plurality of UEs, each capable of periodic SRS transmission. The plurality of UEs may be configured for codebook-based transmission, enabling efficient SRS allocation. The codebookbased transmission is a technique used in wireless communication to optimize the transmission and reception of signals.

[0082] In order to manage the allocation of the one or more resources, the processing engine (208) (implemented as the gNB) may receive data associated with the plurality of UEs. The received data may include, but is not limited to, Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Reporting (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR). In an embodiment, the received data may provide information on the real-time status of each UE, helping the gNB to determine which set of UEs from the plurality of UEs are to be allocated the one or more SRS resources. Examples of the one or more SRS resources include, but are not limited to, time-domain allocations corresponding to specific uplink slots or OFDM symbols, frequency-domain allocations corresponding to one or more Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs), periodic or aperiodic SRS transmission occasions, and antenna port or comb-based configurations associated with SRS transmission.

[0083] In an embodiment, the DL BO represents an amount of pending downlink data buffered at the gNB for the UE. A higher DL BO indicates that the UE has significant pending downlink data, which may necessitate SRS resource allocation for improved scheduling decisions. Further, the UL BSR is a status report transmitted by the UE to the gNB, indicating the volume of data waiting for transmission in the UE’s uplink buffer. A higher UL BSR suggests that the UE requires more uplink resources, making it a suitable candidate for SRS resource allocation. Further, the PUSCH SINR is a metric that represents the uplink channel quality between the UE and the gNB. A higher SINR value indicates a stronger uplink channel, making the UE a more suitable candidate for SRS allocation.

[0084] Based on the received data, the processing engine (208) may determine whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval. In an embodiment, the predefined interval may correspond to a Time-to-Trigger (TTT) duration. The Time-to-Trigger (TTT) is a configurable time window during which network conditions are continuously monitored before triggering a resource allocation decision. Instead of reacting instantly to short-term fluctuations, the TTT mechanism ensures that only persistent conditions, such as sustained uplink demand, channel quality, or buffer occupancy, result in the allocation of SRS resources. This approach stabilizes resourcemanagement, reduces unnecessary fluctuations in resource allocation decisions, and optimizes utilization of SRS resources by filtering out transient variations in network conditions.

[0085] In an embodiment, the predefined entry criteria may refer to one or more conditions that a UE must satisfy to become eligible for allocation of the one or more SRS resources. The predefined entry criteria may be evaluated based on parameters included in the received data, such as DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR. For example, a UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria when the DL BO exceeds a predefined buffer threshold, indicating a high volume of pending downlink data. In an example, the gNB may configure a DL BO threshold of, for example, 5 MB of buffered data. If a UE has a DL BO of 8 MB, this indicates that a significant amount of downlink data is awaiting transmission to that UE. In such a case, allocating SRS resources to the UE enables the gNB to obtain accurate uplink channel measurements, which in turn assist in making efficient scheduling decisions for high-volume downlink transmissions, such as selecting appropriate modulation and coding schemes or beamforming parameters.

[0086] Similarly, the UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria when the UL BSR exceeds a buffer predefined threshold, indicating a requirement for uplink transmission support. For example, the network may configure a UL BSR threshold corresponding to a predefined buffer level index or a data volume threshold, such as 2 MB of uplink data pending at the UE. If the UE reports a UL BSR value exceeding this threshold, for example, 3 MB of buffered uplink data, it implies that the UE has significant uplink data to transmit. In such a case, allocating SRS resources enables the gNB to estimate uplink channel quality more accurately, thereby facilitating efficient uplink scheduling and resource allocation.

[0087] Further, the UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria when the SINR is above a predefined channel quality threshold, ensuring that the UE has sufficient channel quality for reliable SRS-based channel estimation. For example, the network may configure a SINR threshold of 10 dB, and if the UE reports a PUSCH SINR of 15 dB, it indicates that the UE has favorable uplink channel conditions. Allocating SRS resources to such UEs ensures that the channel sounding process is reliable and that the gNB can effectively utilize the measured channel information for beamforming and scheduling decisions. Conversely, UEs with SINR values below the threshold may not be prioritized for SRS allocation, as poor channel conditions may result in inaccurate channel estimation and inefficient use of SRS resources.

[0088] In an embodiment, if the first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs does not satisfy the predefined entry criteria for the predefined interval (e.g., the Time-to-Trigger duration), the UE may continue to be served using alternative reference signals to maintain communication with the network. For example, the UE may be served using Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) in the downlinkdirection, enabling the UE to measure channel quality and provide feedback to the gNB. The CSI-RS measurements assist the gNB in performing beam management, link adaptation, and mobility decisions. In addition, the UE may continue to receive Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSB), including multi-beam SSB transmissions, which enable the UE to maintain synchronization with the serving cell and perform beam selection and beam tracking operations. In this manner, the UE remains connected to the network even though it is not currently allocated SRS resources.

[0089] In an embodiment, upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria for the predefined interval, the processing engine (208) may add the first set of UEs into an active queue (e.g., an active SRS queue) to allocate one or more SRS resources to each of the first set of UEs. The SRS refers to an uplink reference signal transmitted by the UE using the allocated SRS resources, enabling the gNB to estimate the uplink channel quality across a wider bandwidth. In an embodiment, the active queue includes the first set of UEs that are allocated the one or more SRS resources. In particular, the active SRS queue may represent a dynamically maintained list of UEs that are currently configured to transmit SRS signals. For example, the gNB may configure periodic SRS transmissions for the UEs in the active queue over specific time-frequency resources such as designated Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) within an uplink slot. In an embodiment, the first set of UEs may include those UEs from the plurality of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria for the predefined interval and are added to the active queue for SRS resource allocation.

[0090] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) may further determine whether the active queue has reached a predefined capacity. The predefined capacity may represent the maximum number of UEs that can simultaneously transmit SRS using the allocated SRS resources. When the processing engine (208) determines that the active queue has reached the predefined capacity, the processing engine (208) may add a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue (e.g., a candidate SRS queue). The candidate queue may therefore maintain a list of UEs that are eligible for SRS allocation but cannot immediately receive SRS resources due to the capacity limitation of the active queue.

[0091] In an embodiment, the predefined capacity of the active queue may be determined based on factors such as available uplink bandwidth, number of SRS resource blocks configured by the gNB, hardware or processing limitations of the base station, or network operator configuration. For example, if the predefined capacity of the active queue is configured to support SRS transmissions for 64 UEs simultaneously, once 64 UEs have been added to the active queue, any additional UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria may be added to the candidate queue until SRS resources become available.

[0092] In an embodiment, while the second set of UEs remains in the candidate queue, the second set of UEs may continue to be served by the network using CSI-RS transmissions in the downlink direction and synchronization signals such as multibeam SSB transmissions. These reference signals allow the UE to measure channel quality, perform beam selection, and maintain synchronization with the gNB even though the UE is not currently transmitting SRS. This ensures that the UEs added in the candidate queue remain connected to the network and are ready to utilize SRS resources once such resources become available.

[0093] In an embodiment, the processing engine (208) may continuously monitor the first set of UEs present in the active queue to determine whether the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria. The predefined exit criteria may correspond to conditions indicating that the UE no longer requires SRS resources. Similar to the entry criteria, the exit criteria may also be evaluated based on parameters such as DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR.

[0094] For example, a UE satisfies the predefined exit criteria when the DL BO falls below the predefined buffer threshold, indicating that the UE no longer has a significant amount of pending downlink data. For example, if the DL BO threshold is configured as 5 MB, and the DL BO of a UE decreases from 8 MB to 2 MB over the predefined interval, it indicates that most of the buffered downlink data has already been transmitted. In such a scenario, continued allocation of SRS resources to the UE may not provide significant benefit for scheduling decisions, and therefore, the UE may be removed from the active queue and the corresponding SRS resources may be released.

[0095] Similarly, the UE may satisfy the predefined exit criteria when the UL BSR falls below the predefined buffer threshold, indicating reduced uplink transmission demand. For example, if the UL BSR threshold corresponds to 2 MB of buffered uplink data, and the UE reports a UL BSR value decreasing from 3 MB to 0.5 MB, it suggests that the UE has minimal uplink data pending for transmission. In such cases, allocating SRS resources may not be necessary, and the UE may be removed from the active queue or from the candidate queue, depending on its current state.

[0096] Further, the UE may satisfy the predefined exit criteria when the PUSCH SINR falls below the predefined channel quality threshold, indicating degraded uplink channel conditions. For example, if the SINR threshold is configured as 10 dB, and the UE experiences a drop in SINR from 15 dB to 6 dB over the predefined interval, it indicates that the channel conditions have deteriorated. Under such conditions, SRS-based channel estimation may become unreliable, and continuing SRS allocation may lead to inefficient utilization of radio resources. Accordingly, the UE may be considered for removal from the active queue or the candidate queue.

[0097] In an embodiment, the predefined exit criteria may be evaluated for both the first set of UEs present in the active queue and the second set of UEs present in thecandidate queue, thereby ensuring consistent and threshold-based management of SRS resource allocation and release across the plurality of UEs.

[0098] In an embodiment, the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria may be evaluated over the predefined interval corresponding to the Time-to-Trigger (TTT) duration, such that the respective threshold conditions associated with DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR are required to be continuously satisfied for the duration of the TTT before a decision is made. For example, even if the DL BO of a UE temporarily exceeds the predefined buffer threshold due to a short burst of incoming data, the UE may not be immediately considered for SRS allocation unless the DL BO remains above the threshold for the entire TTT duration. Similarly, if the UL BSR or PUSCH SINR fluctuates momentarily above or below the corresponding thresholds, such transient variations may be ignored unless the condition persists over the predefined interval. In this manner, the TTT-based evaluation ensures that only sustained uplink demand, downlink buffer conditions, or channel quality variations result in allocation or release of SRS resources, thereby preventing frequent oscillations of UEs between the active queue and the candidate queue. This improves the stability of SRS resource allocation, reduces unnecessary signaling overhead, and enhances the overall efficiency of the radio network.

[0099] In an embodiment, the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria may be evaluated based on a consistent parameter association. Specifically, if a UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria based on a particular parameter, the evaluation of the predefined exit criteria for that UE may also be based on the same parameter. For example, if a UE is added to the active queue based on a buffer threshold condition associated with DL BO, the removal of the UE from the active queue may be determined based on whether the DL BO falls below the corresponding predefined buffer threshold. Similarly, if the UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria based on UL BSR or PUSCH SINR, the predefined exit criteria for that UE may be evaluated based on the same respective parameter.

[0100] In an embodiment, if the first set of UEs added to the active queue does not satisfy the predefined exit criteria, the first set of UEs may remain in the active queue and continue transmitting SRS using the allocated SRS resources. This allows the gNB to periodically obtain uplink channel measurements from the UE and perform efficient uplink scheduling and beamforming operations.

[0101] In an embodiment, upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the processing engine (208) may remove the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources. For example, if the UE initially received SRS resources due to high uplink data demand but its UL BSR subsequently falls below a predefined threshold for the predefined interval, the UE may no longer require SRS -based channel sounding.Consequently, the UE may be removed from the active queue, and the SRS resources previously allocated to that UE may be released.

[0102] In some embodiments, the processing engine (208) may further monitor the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue to determine whether the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria. If the UE in the candidate queue no longer satisfies the predefined exit criteria, such as when its buffer occupancy or channel conditions fall below the configured thresholds, the processing engine (208) may remove the UE from the candidate queue since the UE is no longer considered suitable for SRS allocation.

[0103] In response to removing the first set of UEs from the active queue, the processing engine (208) may shift the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue based on a predefined selection mechanism, such as a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) mechanism. In the FIFO mechanism, the UE that was added earliest to the candidate queue may be selected first and moved to the active queue when SRS resources become available. After being shifted to the active queue, the UE may be allocated the released SRS resources and may begin transmitting SRS signals using the configured time-frequency resources. This FIFO-based mechanism ensures fair allocation of SRS resources among UEs while maintaining efficient utilization of the available radio resources.

[0104] The present disclosure provides a system (108) for dynamically allocating SRS resources to the UEs. In an embodiment, to enable a dynamic SRS feature, the gNB identifies the UEs that satisfy configurable entry and exit criteria based on the DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR for a time-to-trigger duration. In an embodiment, the UEs that satisfy either DL BO or UL BSR and PUSCH SINR conditions are added to an active SRS queue, and the gNB allocates the SRS resources to the UEs in the active SRS queue. When the active SRS queue is full, then a new SRS-capable UE that satisfies the entry criteria (i.e., either DL BO or UL BSR and PUSCH SINR) is added to the candidate SRS queue. In an embodiment, when the UE from the active SRS queue satisfies the exit criteria (i.e., either DL BO or UL BSR and PUSCH SINR) for the time-to-trigger duration, the UE is dropped from the active SRS queue, and the allocated SRS resources are released. In an embodiment, when the UE is dropped from the active SRS queue, UEs from the candidate SRS queue are shifted to the active SRS queue according to FIFO logic, and UEs that satisfy the exit criteria are dropped from the candidate SRS queue, ensuring efficient resource utilization.

[0105] By implementing the dynamic SRS feature, the system (108) significantly enhances the spectral efficiency of the radio network, as SRS resources are dynamically allocated and utilized only by UEs that derive the maximum benefit from them. This leads to better overall network performance, optimizing uplink transmission quality and increasing the user-experienced throughput, thereby improving the end-user experience.

[0106] In an embodiment, the database (210) may store data associated with the plurality of UEs, including, but not limited to, DL BO, UL BSR, PUSCH SINK, queue status information, and configuration parameters associated with SRS resources. The data may be generated, updated, or accessed as a result of functionalities implemented by one or more components of the processor (202) or the processing engine (208). In an embodiment, the database (210) may include, but is not limited to, a relational database, a distributed database, a cloud-based database, or any other suitable data storage system configured to store and retrieve information required for managing the allocation of the one or more SRS resources.

[0107] Although FIG. 2 shows exemplary components of the system (108), in other embodiments, the system (108) may include fewer components, different components, differently arranged components, or additional functional components than depicted in FIG. 2. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the system (108) may perform functions described as being performed by one or more other components of the system (108).

[0108] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process flow (300) for managing the allocation of the one or more resources in the network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is explained in conjunction with the FIGs.1-2.

[0109] At step (302), a periodic SRS capable UE is attached to the network, enabling it to participate in the uplink SRS transmission process, thereby establishing connectivity with a serving gNodeB (gNB) in a Next-Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN). In an embodiment, the UE may complete initial access procedures, including synchronization, random access, and registration with the network, following which the UE may be identified as being capable of supporting periodic SRS transmission based on its configuration and capability signaling.

[0110] In an embodiment, the SRS capable UE refers to a UE that supports transmission of Sounding Reference Signals in the uplink, as indicated by its radio capability information and configuration received from the network. Such capability may include support for SRS -related parameters such as bandwidth configuration, antenna ports, periodicity, and transmission modes used for uplink channel estimation. The periodic SRS capable UE refers to an SRS capable UE that is configured by the gNB to transmit SRS at predefined periodic intervals. The periodicity of SRS transmission may be configured using higher-layer signaling, enabling the UE to transmit SRS at regular time intervals for continuous uplink channel sounding, channel estimation, and scheduling optimization. Such a periodic SRS configuration allows the gNB to maintain updated channel state information over time, thereby improving resource allocation efficiency.

[0111] In some embodiments, the gNB may obtain UE capability information during the attachment or registration procedure, indicating whether the UE supportsperiodic SRS transmission and associated configurations such as bandwidth, periodicity, and antenna capabilities. Based on this information, the UE becomes eligible to participate in uplink channel sounding procedures. The attachment of the UE enables the gNB to monitor transmission-related parameters associated with the UE and subsequently evaluate whether the UE qualifies for allocation of one or more SRS resources for uplink channel estimation and scheduling purposes.

[0112] At step (304), the UE is configured for codebook-based transmission, which allows it to transmit SRS, optimizing network efficiency. The codebook-based transmission is a technique used in wireless communication to optimize the transmission and reception of signals. In this technique, the transmitting device (e.g., UE or gNB) selects a predefined set of weights, known as a codebook, to steer the signal in specific directions. This selection is based on the channel conditions and feedback received from the network. For SRS allocation, codebook-based transmission allows the UE to efficiently transmit uplink signals by optimizing spatial diversity and signal strength. This reduces interference and improves overall network efficiency by ensuring that uplink transmissions are directed toward the optimal beam paths.

[0113] At step (306), the gNB determines whether the UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria for allocation of one or more SRS resources. In an embodiment, the gNB may evaluate one or more parameters associated with the UE, including DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR. These parameters provide an indication of the data transmission requirements and uplink channel conditions of the UE. In an embodiment, the predefined entry criteria may be defined using threshold-based conditions associated with the DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR. For example, the UE may be considered to satisfy the predefined entry criteria if at least one of the DL BO exceeds a predefined buffer threshold, the UL BSR exceeds a predefined buffer threshold, or the PUSCH SINR is above a predefined channel quality threshold.

[0114] In an embodiment, the determination of whether the UE satisfies the predefined entry criteria may be performed over a predefined interval corresponding to a Time-to- Trigger (TTT) duration, such that the UE is required to continuously satisfy the predefined entry criteria for the duration of the TTT before being considered eligible for SRS allocation. This ensures that transient fluctuations in buffer occupancy or channel quality do not result in unnecessary allocation of SRS resources, thereby improving stability and efficiency of resource management.

[0115] At step (308), if the UE does not satisfy the predefined entry criteria for the predefined interval, the UE may continue to be served using alternative reference signals to maintain communication with the network and enable channel measurements. In an embodiment, the UE may be served using Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) in the downlink (DL), which enable the UE to perform channel measurements and provide channel state feedback to the gNB for scheduling and beam management purposes.

[0116] Further, the UE may be served using Multi-Synchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) in an uplink (UL) direction. The Multi-S SB-based transmission may facilitate synchronization-related measurements, beam alignment, or reference signaling associated with uplink communication, thereby enabling the UE to maintain reliable connectivity and measurement capability even in the absence of SRS allocation. In some embodiments, the Multi-SSB in the uplink may correspond to a functional equivalent or adaptation of synchronization signaling used for uplink reference or measurement purposes.

[0117] If the UE (e.g., first set of UEs) satisfies the predefined entry criteria, at step (310), the gNB determines whether capacity is available in the active SRS queue for the allocation of one or more SRS resources. In an embodiment, the capacity of the active SRS queue may correspond to a maximum number of UEs that can be simultaneously configured to transmit SRS using allocated SRS resources. The gNB may compare the current number of UEs present in the active SRS queue with the predefined capacity to determine whether additional UEs can be accommodated for SRS allocation.

[0118] At step (312), if it is determined that there is no available capacity in the active SRS queue, the UE (e.g., second set of UEs) is added to a candidate SRS queue. In an embodiment, the candidate SRS queue may maintain a list of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria but are pending allocation of SRS resources due to the capacity limitation of the active SRS queue. While present in the candidate SRS queue, the UE may continue to be served using CSI-RS in the DL and Multi-SSB in the UL. This ensures that the UE continues to perform channel measurements, maintain synchronization-related operations, and remain connected to the network until SRS resources become available.

[0119] At step (314), the gNB evaluates whether the UE in the candidate SRS queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria over the predefined interval corresponding to the Time-to-Trigger (TTT) duration. In an embodiment, the evaluation of the exit criteria may be based on one or more parameters such as DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR. For example, if the UE no longer exhibits sufficient data demand or channel quality as defined by the corresponding thresholds for the duration of the TTT, the UE may be considered to satisfy the exit criteria.

[0120] At step (316), if the UE satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the UE is removed from the candidate SRS queue, as the UE is no longer eligible for allocation of SRS resources.

[0121] At step (318), if the UE does not satisfy the predefined exit criteria, the UE remains in the candidate SRS queue. While remaining in the candidate SRS queue, the UE continues to be served using CSI-RS in the downlink (DL) and Multi-SSB in the uplink (UL), thereby enabling continued channel measurement, synchronization-related signaling, and maintenance of connectivity with the gNB until either SRS resources become available or the UE satisfies the exit criteria.

[0122] At step (320), upon determining that capacity has become available in the active SRS queue, the gNB selects a UE from the candidate SRS queue based on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) mechanism and shifts the selected UE from the candidate SRS queue to the active SRS queue. In an embodiment, the UE that was added earliest to the candidate SRS queue is selected first for shifting, thereby ensuring fairness and preventing starvation of UEs awaiting SRS allocation.

[0123] Upon being shifted to the active SRS queue, the UE is configured for SRS transmission by allocating one or more SRS resources. In an embodiment, the configuration of SRS transmission may include assignment of time-frequency resources such as specific uplink slots, OFDM symbols, and Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs), along with transmission parameters including periodicity, bandwidth, and antenna configuration.

[0124] Further, the gNB may configure transmission parameters such as Codebook-based precoding or Transmission Adaptation Scheme (TAS) based on the entry criteria satisfied by the UE, thereby optimizing uplink channel estimation and transmission performance. In an embodiment, codebook-based precoding refers to a transmission technique in which the UE selects a precoding matrix from a predefined set of matrices (referred to as a codebook) based on channel state information. The selected precoding matrix determines how the uplink signal is spatially mapped across one or more transmit antennas, enabling efficient beamforming and improving signal quality at the gNB. The use of codebook-based precoding enables the UE to adapt its transmission directionality and spatial characteristics to prevailing channel conditions. In an embodiment, the TAS refers to a mechanism for dynamically adjusting one or more transmission parameters of the UE based on channel conditions, resource availability, or network configuration. The TAS may include adaptation of parameters such as transmission power, modulation and coding scheme (MCS), antenna selection, or beam configuration to optimize uplink transmission reliability and efficiency. By employing TAS, the network ensures that the SRS transmission is performed using parameters that are best suited for the current radio conditions, thereby enhancing channel estimation accuracy and overall system performance.

[0125] At step (322), the gNB evaluates whether the UE present in the active SRS queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria over the predefined interval corresponding to the Time-to-Trigger duration. In an embodiment, the exit criteria may be evaluated based on parameters such as DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR, and the UE must continuously satisfy the exit condition for the duration of the Time-to-Trigger before a decision is made.

[0126] At step (324), if the UE satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the UE is removed from the active SRS queue, and the one or more SRS resources allocated tothe UE are released. For example, if the UE no longer has sufficient data demand or its channel quality falls below a predefined threshold for the duration of the TTT, the UE may be considered no longer suitable for SRS allocation, and the released SRS resources may be made available for allocation to other UEs.

[0127] If the UE does not satisfy the predefined exit criteria, the process moves to step (326), where the UE remains in the active SRS queue and continues to transmit SRS using the allocated SRS resources. In such cases, the gNB may continue to utilize the SRS transmissions from the UE for uplink channel estimation, beamforming, and scheduling decisions, thereby ensuring efficient utilization of radio resources and maintaining optimal uplink performance.

[0128] In an aspect, for defining the configurable entry and exit criteria based on DL BO / UL BSR and PUSCH SINR, the following steps may be considered: a) For more efficient utilization of SRS resources, the resources may be allocated only to those UEs that satisfy the entry criteria based on DL BO / UL BSR and PUSCH SINR. b) A new configurable entry and exit criteria may be defined based on the DL BO or UL BSR. c) Also, a new configurable entry and exit criteria may be defined based on the PUSCH SINR. d) The UE may satisfy either the DL BO or the UL BSR entry criteria and the PUSCH SINR entry criteria, e) Only those UEs that satisfy both the above-defined criteria should be selected for the SRS queues, f) Once a UE has been selected for an SRS queue, it may be kept in the queue until the value of the DL BO / UL BSR and UL SINR parameters drops below the Exit criteria, g) Also, regarding the Buffer thresholds, if the UE has satisfied the entry criteria based on DL BO, then the exit criteria may also be based on DL BO only. The buffer threshold represents a predefined limit for the amount of data waiting to be transmitted in either the DL BO or UL BSR. h) All the other UEs that do not satisfy any of the above criteria may be served through Multi-SSB in UL and CSI-RS in DL.

[0129] In an aspect, for defining a Time-to-Trigger duration for the entry and exit criteria, the following steps may be considered: a) A new configurable time-to-trigger parameter may be defined for the entry and exit criteria, b) The UE may be selected to any SRS queue only if it satisfies the Entry criteria for the configured Time-to-Trigger Duration, c) Similarly, the UE should be removed from any SRS queue only if it satisfies the exit criteria for the configured Time-to-Trigger Duration, d) The time to trigger is applicable for both the active SRS queue and the candidate SRS queue.

[0130] In an aspect, for the preparation of the active SRS and candidate SRS queue, the following steps may be considered: a) Depending on the number of active SRS UEs supported, the UEs that satisfy the entry criteria should be added to the active SRS queue, b) If the active SRS queue is full and a new SRS-capable UE is connected and also satisfies the entry criteria, then that UE may be added to the candidate SRS queue, c) Till the time the active SRS queue remains full, the UEs in the candidate SRS queue may be served with Multi SSB in UL and CSI-RS in DL. Whenever a UE fromthe active SRS queue satisfies the exit criteria, that UE may be dropped from the queue, and the UEs from the Candidate SRS queue may be shifted to the active SRS queue based on FIFO logic, d) Also, if any UE in the candidate SRS queue satisfies the exit criteria, it should be dropped from the candidate SRS queue, e) The UEs in the active SRS queue may be allocated SRS resources for transmission, f) For example, if the maximum number of active SRS UEs supported is 64, then the size of the active SRS queue should be 64. g) All the other remaining UEs should be served through Multi-SSB in UL and CSI-RS in DL.

[0131] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method (400) for managing read operations in the network (106), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is explained in conjunction with the FIGs. 1-3.

[0132] At step (402), data associated with a plurality of UEs is received. In an embodiment, the received data may include, but is not limited to, Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) associated with the plurality of UEs. The received data may represent real-time transmission requirements and channel conditions of the plurality of UEs.

[0133] At step (404), the processing engine (208) determines whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval. In an embodiment, the predefined interval corresponds to a Time-to-Trigger (TTT) duration, such that the first set of UEs is required to continuously satisfy the predefined entry criteria over the predefined interval before being considered eligible for allocation of one or more SRS resources. The predefined entry criteria may be defined using threshold-based conditions associated with DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR.

[0134] Upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria, at step (406), the processing engine (208) adds the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs. In an embodiment, the active queue includes the first set of UEs that are allocated the one or more SRS resources and are configured to transmit SRS using allocated time-frequency resources in an uplink resource grid for enabling uplink channel estimation. In an embodiment, the uplink resource grid refers to a structured representation of radio resources in the uplink direction, defined over time and frequency domains. The uplink resource grid may include a plurality of time slots, OFDM symbols within each slot, and subcarriers grouped into Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs). Each element of the resource grid corresponds to a specific timefrequency unit that may be allocated for transmission by the UE. In an embodiment, the one or more SRS resources correspond to specific locations within the uplink resource grid, defined by parameters such as symbol position, subcarrier allocation, bandwidth, and periodicity. By assigning SRS resources within the uplink resourcegrid, the UE transmits SRS at designated time-frequency locations, enabling the gNB to estimate uplink channel conditions across a wide bandwidth for scheduling, beamforming, and link adaptation purposes.

[0135] At step (408), upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, the processing engine (208) adds a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue. In an embodiment, the predefined capacity corresponds to a maximum number of UEs that are allowed to simultaneously transmit SRS using the one or more SRS resources within the active queue. The candidate queue includes the second set of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria and are added to the candidate queue when the active queue reaches the predefined capacity.

[0136] In an embodiment, while the second set of UEs is present in the candidate queue, the second set of UEs is served using Multi-Synchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) in an uplink direction and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) in a downlink direction while the active queue remains at the predefined capacity. In an embodiment, the CSI-RS refers to a downlink reference signal transmitted by the gNB to enable a UE to perform channel measurements and report channel state information. The CSI-RS may be configured over specific timefrequency resources and is used for functions including channel quality estimation, beam management, link adaptation, and scheduling decisions. By utilizing CSI-RS, the UE may provide feedback regarding channel conditions, thereby assisting the gNB in optimizing transmission parameters. Further, the Multi-SSB refers to a set of synchronization signal transmissions associated with multiple beams or transmission instances, adapted for providing synchronization-related signaling in an uplink direction. The Multi-SSB may facilitate functions including timing alignment, beam association, or uplink reference measurements, enabling the UE to maintain synchronization and connectivity with the gNB in the absence of allocated SRS resources. In some embodiments, the Multi-SSB in the uplink may correspond to a functional adaptation of synchronization signaling structures used for uplink reference or measurement purposes.

[0137] Further, the processing engine (208) monitors the second set of UEs to determine whether the second set of UEs satisfies a predefined exit criteria for the predefined interval. Upon determining that the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the processing engine (208) removes the second set of UEs from the candidate queue.

[0138] At step (410), the processing engine (208) determines whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria. In an embodiment, the predefined exit criteria may be defined using threshold-based conditions associated with DL BO, UL BSR, and PUSCH SINR, and may be evaluated over the predefined interval corresponding to the TTT duration.

[0139] At step (412), upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, the processing engine (208) removes the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources. In an embodiment, the release of SRS resources makes the resources available for allocation to other UEs.

[0140] At step (414), in response to removing the first set of UEs from the active queue, the processing engine (208) shifts the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs. In an embodiment, the shifting of the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue is performed based on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) mechanism, wherein a UE that is added earlier to the candidate queue is shifted earlier to the active queue, thereby ensuring fair and efficient allocation of SRS resources. The processing engine (208) further allocates the one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs when the second set of UEs is shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue.

[0141] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary computer system (500) in which or with which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 5, the computer system may include an external storage device (510), a bus (520), a main memory (530), a read-only memory (540), a mass storage device (550), communication port(s) (560), and a processor (570). A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer system may include more than one processor and communication ports.

[0143] The processor (570) may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication port(s) (560) may be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem-based dialup connection, a 10 / 100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fiber, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. The communication port(s) (560) may be chosen depending on a network, such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system connects.

[0144] The main memory (530) may be random-access memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. The read-only memory (540) may be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information e.g., start-up or Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) instructions for the processor (570).

[0145] The mass storage device (550) may be any current or future mass storage solution, which can be used to store information and / or instructions. Exemplary mass storage device (550) includes, but is not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus(USB) and / or Firewire interfaces), one or more optical discs, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage, e.g., an array of disks.

[0146] The bus (520) communicatively couples the processor (570) with the other memory, storage, and communication blocks. The bus (520) may be, e.g., a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) / PCI Extended (PCI-X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), or the like, for connecting expansion cards, drives, and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects the processor (570) to the computer system.

[0147] Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g., a display, keyboard, joystick, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to the bus (520) to support direct operator interaction with the computer system. Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through the communication port(s) (560). Components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0148] In an exemplary embodiment, a system managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network is disclosed. The system includes a memory and a processing engine coupled with the memory to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory. The processing engine is configured to receive data associated with a plurality of UEs, determine whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval, add the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more SRS resources to each of the first set of UEs, add a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, determine whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria, remove the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, and shift the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

[0149] In another exemplary embodiment, a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium is disclosed. The medium includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network. The method includes receiving, by a processing engine, data associated with a plurality of UEs, determining whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval, adding the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs, adding a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteriainto a candidate queue upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, determining whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria, removing the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, and shifting the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

[0150] The present disclosure provides technical advancements in the field of wireless communication networks by providing a dynamic mechanism for managing the allocation of SRS resources based on real-time network conditions. In conventional systems, SRS resources are statically allocated or retained for extended durations, leading to inefficient utilization of radio resources and suboptimal network performance. In contrast, the present disclosure enables dynamic allocation and release of SRS resources based on predefined entry and exit criteria associated with parameters such as Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), thereby ensuring that SRS resources are utilized only by UEs that provide maximum benefit from SRS -based channel estimation.

[0151] Further, the present disclosure incorporates a Time-to-Trigger (TTT)-based evaluation mechanism, wherein the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria are required to be continuously satisfied over a predefined interval before allocation or release of SRS resources is performed. This approach prevents unnecessary oscillations caused by transient variations in network conditions and ensures stable and reliable resource allocation decisions, thereby reducing signaling overhead and improving overall network efficiency.

[0152] The present disclosure further discloses a queue-based resource management framework including an active SRS queue and a candidate SRS queue. The active SRS queue maintains UEs that are allocated SRS resources, while the candidate SRS queue maintains UEs that satisfy the entry criteria but are pending allocation due to predefined capacity constraints. This dual-queue architecture enables efficient handling of resource contention and ensures that newly eligible UEs are systematically considered for SRS allocation without disrupting ongoing transmissions.

[0153] Additionally, the present disclosure employs a First-In-Fir st- Out (FIFO) based selection mechanism for shifting UEs from the candidate SRS queue to the active SRS queue upon availability of SRS resources. This ensures fairness in resource allocation and avoids starvation of UEs waiting for SRS assignment. Further, the use of parameter-consistent evaluation for entry and exit criteria ensures that a UE selected based on a specific parameter, such as DL BO, is also evaluated for release based onthe same parameter, thereby improving logical consistency and predictability of the system.

[0154] Moreover, the present disclosure ensures that UEs in the candidate SRS queue continue to be served using alternative reference signals such as Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) and Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSB), thereby maintaining connectivity and enabling channel measurements even in the absence of SRS allocation. This ensures seamless user experience and avoids service degradation. By dynamically reallocating SRS resources, filtering transient conditions using TTT, and employing a structured queue-based mechanism, the present disclosure significantly enhances spectral efficiency of the radio network. The SRS resources are allocated only to UEs that can effectively utilize them, leading to improved uplink channel estimation, optimized scheduling decisions, increased throughput, and improved user experience.

[0155] The method and system of the present disclosure may be implemented in a number of ways. For example, the methods and systems of the present disclosure may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination of software, hardware, and firmware. The above-described order for the steps of the method is for illustration only, and the steps of the method of the present disclosure are not limited to the order specifically described above unless specifically stated otherwise. Further, in some embodiments, the present disclosure may also be embodied as programs recorded in a recording medium, the programs including machine-readable instructions for implementing the methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure also covers a recording medium storing a program for executing the method according to the present disclosure.

[0156] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be implemented merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0157] The present disclosure provides a system and method for dynamically managing an allocation of one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources in a network to optimize spectral efficiency and improve network performance.

[0158] The present disclosure dynamically releases one or more SRS resources from a set of UEs that do not meet a predefined entry criteria, ensuring that only eligible UEs retain the one or more SRS resources and preventing inefficient resource utilization.

[0159] The present disclosure enables newly attached UEs to receive SRS resources without waiting for previously allocated UEs to be released, thereby improving resource availability and network responsiveness.

[0160] The present disclosure enhances spectral efficiency by ensuring that the one or more SRS resources are allocated only to the set of UEs that provide the most significant performance gains, leading to better overall network utilization. With a dynamic SRS feature, the spectral efficiency of the radio network may be significantly increased as the SRS resources may be allocated and used only by the UEs, which provide the most gain from utilizing the SRS resources. This may lead to a better user experience on the network as the efficient utilization of SRS resources may lead to an increase in the user-experienced throughput.

[0161] The present disclosure implements an active SRS queue and a candidate SRS queue for efficient resource reassignment. In this approach, a set of UEs (e.g., a first set of UEs) satisfying predefined entry criteria may be added to the active SRS queue, and additional eligible UEs (e.g., a second set of UEs) may be placed in the candidate SRS queue for optimal allocation.

[0162] The present disclosure provides an efficient allocation of the one or more SRS resources by selecting the UE on a First-In-Fir st- Out (FIFO) basis, thereby optimizing resource utilization and enhancing overall spectral efficiency in a Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radio network.

Claims

1. CLAIMSWe Claim:

1. A method (400) for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network, the method (400) comprising:receiving (402), by a processing engine (208), data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs);determining (404), by the processing engine (208), whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval;upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria, adding (406), by the processing engine (208), the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs;upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, adding (408), by the processing engine (208), a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue;determining (410), by the processing engine (208), whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria;upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, removing (412), by the processing engine (208), the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources; and in response to removing, shifting (414), by the processing engine (208), the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

2. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received data comprises at least one of Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) associated with the plurality of UEs.

3. The method (400) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria for the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs comprise at least one of: a buffer threshold condition associated with DL BO, a buffer threshold condition associated with UL BSR, and a channel quality condition associated with PUSCH SINR.

4. The method (400) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria when at least one of:the DL BO is above a predefined buffer threshold,the UL BSR is above a predefined buffer threshold, andthe PUSCH SINK is above a predefined channel quality threshold.

5. The method (400) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria when at least one of:the DL BO falls below the predefined buffer threshold,the UL BSR falls below the predefined buffer threshold, andthe PUSCH SINR falls below the predefined channel quality threshold.

6. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active queue comprises the first set of UEs that are allocated the one or more SRS resources.

7. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the candidate queue comprises the second set of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria and are added to the candidate queue when the active queue reaches the predefined capacity.

8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:serving, by the processing engine (208), the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue using Multi-Synchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) in an uplink direction and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) in a downlink direction while the active queue remains at the predefined capacity;monitoring, by the processing engine (208), the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue to determine whether the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria for the predefined interval; andupon determining that the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria, removing, by the processing engine (208), the second set of UEs from the candidate queue.

9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:allocating, by the processing engine (208), the one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs when the second set of UEs are shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue.

10. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more SRS resources correspond to time-frequency resources in an uplink resource grid configured for transmission of SRS by the first set of UEs for uplink channel estimation.

11. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second set of UEs is shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue based on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) mechanism.

12. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined capacity corresponds to a maximum number of UEs that are allowed to simultaneously transmit the SRS using the one or more SRS resources within the active queue.

13. A system (108) managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network, the system (108) comprising:a memory (104); anda processing engine (208) coupled with the memory to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory (104), wherein the processing engine (208) is configured to:receive data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs); determine whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval;upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria, add the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs; upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, add a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue;determine whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria;upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, remove the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources; andin response to removing, shift the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

14. The system (108) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the received data comprises at least one of Downlink Buffer Occupancy (DL BO), Uplink Buffer Status Report (UL BSR), and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) associated with the plurality of UEs.

15. The system (108) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predefined entry criteria and the predefined exit criteria for the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs comprise at least one of: a buffer threshold condition associated with DL BO, a buffer thresholdcondition associated with UL BSR, and a channel quality condition associated with PUSCH SINR.

16. The system (108) as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria when at least one of: the DL BO is above a predefined buffer threshold,the UL BSR is above a predefined buffer threshold, andthe PUSCH SINR is above a predefined channel quality threshold.

17. The system (108) as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the first set of UEs and the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria when at least one of:the DL BO falls below the predefined buffer threshold,the UL BSR falls below the predefined buffer threshold, andthe PUSCH SINR falls below the predefined channel quality threshold.

18. The system (108) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the active queue comprises the first set of UEs that are allocated the one or more SRS resources, and the candidate queue comprises the second set of UEs that satisfy the predefined entry criteria and are added to the candidate queue when the active queue reaches the predefined capacity, and wherein the predefined capacity corresponds to a maximum number of UEs that are allowed to simultaneously transmit the SRS using the one or more SRS resources within the active queue.

19. The system (108) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the processing engine (208) is further configured to:serve the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue using MultiSynchronization Signal Blocks (Multi-SSB) in an uplink direction and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS) in a downlink direction while the active queue remains at the predefined capacity;monitor the second set of UEs added in the candidate queue to determine whether the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria for the predefined interval;upon determining that the second set of UEs satisfies the predefined exit criteria, remove the second set of UEs from the candidate queue; andallocate the one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs when the second set of UEs are shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue, wherein the second set of UEs is shifted from the candidate queue to the active queue based on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) mechanism, and wherein the one or more SRS resources correspond to time-frequency resources in an uplink resource grid configured for transmission of SRS by the first set of UEs for uplink channel estimation.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute a method (400) for managing an allocation of one or more resources in a network, the method (400) comprises:receiving, by a processing engine (208), data associated with a plurality of User Equipments (UEs);determining, by the processing engine (208), whether a first set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfies a predefined entry criteria based on the received data for a predefined interval;upon determining that the first set of UEs satisfies the predefined entry criteria, adding, by the processing engine (208), the first set of UEs into an active queue to allocate one or more Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources to each of the first set of UEs;upon determining that the active queue has reached a predefined capacity, adding, by the processing engine (208), a second set of UEs from the plurality of UEs satisfying the predefined entry criteria into a candidate queue;determining, by the processing engine (208), whether the first set of UEs added in the active queue satisfies a predefined exit criteria;upon determining that the first set of UEs in the active queue satisfies the predefined exit criteria, removing, by the processing engine (208), the first set of UEs from the active queue to release the one or more allocated SRS resources; andin response to removing, shifting, by the processing engine (208), the second set of UEs from the candidate queue to the active queue for allocating the released one or more SRS resources to the second set of UEs.

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